Is Road Transport Unorganized?
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Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker Has Referred to Lack of Organization in the Haulage Industry, to which Accusation Two Association Leaders Have Made an Emphatic Reply
By "Tantalus"
AMONGST the correspondence in a recent issue of "The Daily Telegraph" there appeared a letter under the jeint signatures of the presidents of the C.M.U.A. and the A.R.O. The mere fact that it bore their joint names merits special attention, for, to recall a similar occurrence, it would be necessary to V) back some distance in road-transport history.
The letter referred to a question, asked in the House of Commons, regarding the Government's new roadhaulage scheme, as also to the reply thereto given by the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the M.O.W.T. The answer, reported in Hansard, is "as follows:— "The road-haulage industry is not well organized and it is difficult tcs say what meets with their general a pproval. "
It is apparent that the writers of the letter did not agree with that reply, for they registered a strong complaint and asserted that it did not represent the correct position. To quote the words of the letter : "The trouble is not that the industry is not organized, but that the Ministry neglects to consult it before formulating its plans and fails to•give effect to its representations when these plans are. made known,"
' It will be observed from the foregoing that the two views expressed are diametrically opposed. Does the reply of the J.P.S. of the M.O.W.T. reflect the true state of affairs, or is the joint letter of the presidents to be regarded as an authoritative statement of fact? Alternatively, is there a middle course which. permits of
something being said for both sides.? . . In according the general position thoughtful consideration, the remark of the J.P.S., to the effect that the road-haulage industry is not well organized, must be rejected on facts alone and, therefore, must be discounted. The J.P.S., however, is on much safer ground in the second half of his reply, when he says "and it is difficult 'to say what meets with their approval." Anyone who has any knowledge or experience of the industry—nut necessarily extensive—is aware that there is more than a modicum of truth in this statement; for whenever matters of importance—or otherwise—are discussed, either by small groups or national bodies, it is rare indeed to find unanimity prevailing. Operator invariably opposes operator and there are innumerable examples of sectional differences.
Where Unity Was Lacking \ Amongst the most prominent of these bones of contention was the Road-Haulage Wages Act, which almost tore the industry asunder. It will be remembered that whilst the proposals were accepted by the industry in some parts of the country, they were rejected elsewhere—notably in Yerkshire, where the members were rebels in the true meaning of the word. It would be correct to say that the industry never did unanimously and willingly accept the provisions laid down in the Act.
A further illustration is provided by the repeated and lengthy attempts to establish a fates schedule for road haulage which, in the main, have made little progress. The reason for this is that, . opinion throughout the industry is divided as to the advisability of any such structure. • Yet another example of a divided house is afforded by the Road and Rail Conference, which, to all intents eree and purposes, is as nearly dead as possible, but just will not lie down. [This opinion is somewhat sweeping. The Road and Rail Central Conference is carrying on with its work in connection with road and rail rates, standard conditions of carriage, and other matters.—En.] A still-more-recent example of divided opinion is that in connection with the M.O.W.T. Scheme.
It is apparent, therefore, that the J.P.S. had ample evidence in support of his later remark, as will be confirmed by those who have the courage of their convictions and are free from prejudice.
• During the past three years, particularly, the Ministry Alas been in very close contact with the industry through ifs accredited leaders, and, in this connection, the adage "To know a person you must live with him" might well be applied. It may be assumed, then, that as a .result of this close association the Minister has been able to form 'a clear and accurate impression of a side of the industry which, hitherto, was unknown.
Road Transport Is Organized
Reverting to the letter, attention is called to the S.J.C. of Road Hauliers' National Organizations and to the national value attached thereto if properly accepted by the Minister. 4 goes on to criticize the Ministry on the grounds that "its method seems to be that of private consultations with selected individuals and the adoption of the opinion nearest to the vies of officialdom, which is too often out of touch with the realities of the situation. Then, when 'the representatives of the industry are called in, they are confronted with a scheme drawn up without their help, and informed that its main features cannot be altered." The letter concludes with a plea to the Minister to "use the good Offices that have been put at his disposal by the industry so that there shall be an end of wild statements in Parliament; for whatever may have been the position in the past, the roadtransport industry to-day is very well organized indeed."
Admitting that the above statements are correct, is not the crux of the position contained in the question of representation? For who is sufficiently bold to assert that the road-haulage industry as spoken with, orebeen represented by, one voice? On the contrary, it might well be likened to. a Tower of Babel.
It would appear on the surface that the case stated by the two presidents was justified, in that the industry has been ignored when, it is claimed, there should have been consultation. The Ministry, however, must be given credit for having its ear close to the ground and being fully acquainted with happenings within the industry. For instance, what must have been the reaction of the Ministry regarding the launching of the Hauliers' Mutual Federation? The fact that such a movement was considered necessary by a considerable number of operator: certainly must have had repercussion in the Ministry.
The S.J.C. proposals should provide a. solution to the whole problem. Much, however, must depend upon the degree of unanimity in its acceptances, also in the wayin which the Scheme is operated. If, in the initial stages of working, those responsible secure the confidence of the members of the industry, official recognition should follow automatically. In other words, the National Road Transport Federation must prove itself worthy of both the Ministry and the industry.