LETTERS to the editor continued from page 54
Page 61
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time for which a licence will be valid. This once again emphasizes the uncertainty with which Mrs. Castle has infected the industry, and this in turn restricts the investment of new capital and the planning of future policy by the independent haulage contractor.
We wholeheartedly disagree and will fight any suggestion that nationalized companies should be given any advantage over the independent contractors to the detriment of either the taxpayer, industry or the public at large. We believe that the Minister should concentrate more on the improvement of traffic flow and freight movement by education, and conduct a full examination into the best ways available for all transport users to reduce costs. She should pursue a policy which would reduce costs and introduce safety systems into the industry, emphasizing strict control of safety in vehicles encompassing all the aspects of maintenance, manufacture and use of modern equipment. She would best spend the taxpayers' money in educating and advising, rather than in legislating. into the Association's publicity, with particular reference to the recent announcement by the Minister of Transport of proposals to reduce drivers' hours.
It is now possible to complete the story with the information that the complaints embodied in the resolution were totally rejected by the National Executive Council, whose members appeared to feel that if those responsible had fully considered the true facts of the matter they could hardly have passed such a resolution. F. R. LYON Public Relations Officer, Road Haulage Association, London, WC 1.