OPINIONS and QUERIES AN OPEN LETTER TO LORD LEATHERS .
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THE. Provisional Council of Hauliers' Mutual Federation is desirous of bringing to the notice of the Minister of War Transport the parlous state of a considerable number of yesponsible haulage contractor, resulting from the operation of the Government Hank-age Scheme. These operators who, for one rea..son pr' another, are not controlled undertakings, have, as the result of the operation of the Government Scheme, now lost most of their best traffic. In addition, therefore, to the hampering effects of the fuel restrictions, they are now denuded of traffic.
In the opinion of the Conecil. of the Federation there is gross injustice in the prhsent state of affairs, whereby members of one class of haulage contractor are guaranteed remuneration and, at tfie same time, are given • traffic formerly carried by the remaining members of the industry, who are thus caused aconsiderable—in some rases almost total—loss of business; The Council pray's the Minister to take steps to alNviate this 'unfortunate result of the operation of control, as being. an effect which, the Council feels sure, cannot have been visualized at the time the Scheme was planned.
H. Soon HALL, Secretary, London, N.22. Hauliers' Mutual, Federation.
• A REPLY TO OUR "RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION" IT is somewhat amusing to note your. righteous indigna
tion at those 'few " who criticize you unfavourably and appear not to have sufficient courage to put their names to their communications. You go on to refer to " the stigma which must attach itself to those who .act in this fashion," apparently entirely overlooking the fa.ct that, week by week, you publish anonymous articles which criticize individuals as well as organizations, sometimes a little„harshly and, occasionally, on the basis
of erroneous or .incomplete information.
Perhaps " Tantalus " will now take your weighty leader to heart, have the courage of his convictions and put his name to his own articles which appear in "The
Commercial Motor." JOHN C. n
Director, Caledonian Transport London, W.9. : and Motor Co., Ltd.
[We were glad to receive this communication from Mr, Lawrence, as it caused sonic amusementin our editorial offices.. We are afraid that he has rather missed the point. The publication of articles in a newspaper or journal tinder a pen name or even without any indication of source, is a general and well-recognized practice. Perhaps Mr. Lawrence may. have read notes from such contributors as " Scrutator," " Hickey,-" and countless others, but, according to his view, no article should ever be published except under the actual name of the writer. Mr. Lawrence also apparently suggests that no writer should criticize individuals or organizations, particularly where the remarks made may,be a little harsh—in other words, he does not believe in the freedom of the Press; yet it is often public criticism by the Press Ahich results in something good being achieved. We are not prepared to remain mute when we consider that certain matters should be ventilated. As to the point that contributors may occasionally base their remarks on erroneous or incomplete information, none of us is infallible, and, in any case, those who think that they are better informed are given the opportunity of replying, and in this manner often perform a valuable service, which points to the Worth of the original comments.—En.] • THAT "LOST" LORRY PARK Al GLOUCESTER NAY attention has been drawn to a paragraph in Passing Comments," in your issue dated June 25, in which you quote views expressed by' the President of the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce on the A.U.O.'s attitude to proposals to set up a Gloucester lorry park. My Association is fully appreciative of the generou.s, gesture of the Gloucester Corporation in placing a site at our disposal free of charge, but, as Mr. Johnstone points odt, it was left to us to make arrangements to operate the park, which, in addition to fencing and other neces'sary equipment, would have involved a not dnconsiderable expenditure.
The settlement of the details, as in all these cases. took some little time. Mr. Johnstone could not, of course, have been expected to appreciate the factors— such as the effect of the Minister's present Road Haulage Scheme on the operation of such a park—which had to be carefully watched by my Association before reaching a decision. Nevertheless, a scheme was on the point of completion when the Air Ministry stepped in and the As§ociation had no'option but to accede to its wishes.
Contrary to the impression given to you by Mr. Johnstone, the Association will continue to be interested in the park,in conjunction with the Air Delinistry, and is not without hope that it will be in a position to take over complete responsibility for it after the war.
Incidentally, it is incorrect to say that the park was , intended primarily' for the benefit of the Gloucester City hauliers. Whilst all hauliers would have been entitled to make use of it, it proposed to cater maiuly for the long-distance vehicles passing through on trunk services.
I do not propose to comment, other than briefly, on your imaginary version of a Luton breakaway. In your opinion, as expressed in your leader of June 25, " ' The Commercial Motor' always plays fair." That being so; it follows that the columns of your issue for the following week should have given a true picture of the state of affairs and showed that you were wise to suggest that the Luton controversy might "fizzle out like a damp 4Mb." , A. F. WILLS, • Chairman (Western Area), Bristol, 1. Associated Road Operators.
COMMENTS FROM A READER ABROAD MANY thanks for copies of "The Commercial Motor" received recently. I much -appreciate this favour, particularly in view of the fact that publications are rationed at home. The journal maintains its peace-time excellence, and I notC that outstanding problems of industry still command your attention.
Out here, I utilize what spare time I have in chatting with Allied transport users and, as regards the vehicles, noting particularly the features of their design and specification, which might well become standard in con
nection with post-War developments. H. WEYmAN. B.N.A.F.