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Captain Strickland Makes Our Case Clear

10th February 1939
Page 36
Page 36, 10th February 1939 — Captain Strickland Makes Our Case Clear
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ROAD-TRANSPORT interests had no desire to see the unquestionable usefulness of the railways crippled by out-of-date restrictions and, so far as the rail position was due to hamperinglegislation, they were ready to assist in removing the trouble, said Capt. W. F. Strickland, M.P., at a meeting arranged by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, last Monday; However, they insisted that freedom should not be used to crush road-transport competition.

The square deal. had four sides—its effect on trade, road, rail, and the consuming public. Industry and the general public Were of greater importance than the shareholders in either form of transport. With the present road system, the haulier was bound to suffer restriction, and modern highways were an urgent need. The burden of taxation fell heavily on road transport, and the road operator was compelled to pass some of it on to the consumer. They frequently heard of the recommendations of the Salter Report, but the railways never. ,referred to the suggested taxation share of £23,500,000 for commercial vehicles which were actually paying £10,000,000 more than that figure.

Capt. Strickland described the difficulties experienced by hauliers in obtaining licences and mentioned the long delays that were liable to occur, especially where applications had to be taken to appeal. Fleets were restricted through insufficient consideration being given to fluctuations in trade. He sympathized with the view that it was difficult to negotiate with the road transport industry; they all needed to speak with one voice.

' Too often the railways spoke of traffic, as Lord Stamp had spoken of it, as being theirs, but he (Capt.

Strickland) suggested that the traffic belonged solely to the traders. The C-licensee should give his support to the end that road transport might receive fair play.

As had been pointed out, said Major G. A. Renwick, the traffic was the traders' traffic, but they were notably 'apathetic about the matter. Given world appeasement, the trading com munity would have to face competition from abroad such as it had never known before. There were new economic systems in Central Europe and the East.

• The meeting was one of a series, arranged by the Manchester Chamber,. at which members are hearing various aspects of the transport position, before coming to a decision in respect of the "square deal" campaign.


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