We Are 'Europe'
Page 35
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IN THE past 15 years the volume of international goods transport in 'Europe has doubled • every live years! This staggering statistic, produced at last week's Congress of the International Road Transport Union by M. Paul Le Vert (a United Nations delegate) shows the startling growth here is a manifestation of Europe as a Whole.
The I.R.U. has, indeed, come a long way since its foundation. No less than 26 nations are now represented—including Australia, Canada, India and Japan. It is now, as its secretary-general proudly pointed out, highly regarded by United Nations as the only international organization representing road transport.
At this year's Congress, reported on page 75, the British contingent was larger than ,ever and represented virtuallyevery aspect of the British road transport scene. Now, as reported last week, I.R.U. is to have its first British president, Mr. K. C. Turner, the president of our Traders Road Transport Association. This is not just a great honour for him, it is the surest possible proof that the days of isolationism in road transport are drawing to a close.
The Commercial Motor has repeatedly said this over the past few years; now it is becoming -increasingly obvious. Great Britain's is a leading road transport industry in Europe. Its members expect to be treated as such. But this expectation carries with it a responsibility which, sooner or later, will have to be faced. If British operators become part of the European transport picture they, in turn, must be willing to give up certain traditional "closed shops ".