Fair ' Both Ways
Page 37
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Describing negotiations of the Cheddar Valley Groupof hauliers with Battscomhe, EEC and other quarries, Mr. Heal, representing the group, said that a recent 11 per cent increase in rates had followed an 8 per cent and 2-1 per cent increase and that the overall increase of more than 20 per cent was satisfactory. They could negotiate with the companies at any time. Mr. Heal, claimed, and always got ready co-operation. This was at: example of the negotiations being fair " both ways."
Commenting on this claim, Mr. Cox observed that the rates paid to group members were initially very low and that increases would probably not have been obtained had it not been for the work of the RHA. Neither the Cheddar nor Bradgate Group negotiationsrepresented the ideal solution. The failure of the . quarries to organize themselves" was given hy a haulier during the debate as the main difficulty in seeking satisfactory agreements; elaborating on this theme, Mr. Cox observed that the quarries attempted to divide hauliers because they were divided themselves. The quarries in South Gloucestershire were not divided and hauliers were not in difficulties in that area.
Both Mr. Cox and Mr. F. E. Russel(, RHA Western area chairman, made repeated references during the evening to hauliers having to infringe the law with regard to driving hours to make a living with rates at the existing level, and warned operators that the greater frequency and stringency of Ministry of Transport spot checks would increase their difficulties. Running costs would continue to increase.
Particular reference was made by Mr. Russett to the warning given by a number of quarry owners that they . would be powerless to enforce any rates agreement in the case or operators employed by builders' merchants to collect stone, and Mr. Cox followed this with the plea that no operator should carry materials for concerns other than the quarries at lower than quarry rates.
A small operator who was also a builders' merchant claimed that merchants did not seek to depress rates, hut confirmed that hauliers had to do two days' work in one, working excessive hours, to make a living.