"B.R.S. and Hauliers Working Together !, S TATE-OWNED and private-enterprise undertakings in
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the road-haulage industry were working well together, Mr. R. Morton Mitchell, chief executive officer of the Road Haulage Association, told Southgate Rotary Club on Monday. Road haulage was serving the nation better than most other sections of the community in checking inflation and helping to consign goods to overseas customers as quickly as possible.
He pointed out that road haulage rates were no higher than in 1951, a claim which few others could make of their own prices.
Rates quoted by British Road Services today were lower than in 1952 because, whereas they then had a monopoly, today they faced competition. It could be inferred that B.R.S. formerly charged all that the market would bear to subsidize other parts of State transport, or that if they needed to charge so much six years ago, they must be losing money today.
"If so, who covers the losses?" he asked.
Road haulage, reckoned in terms of tonnage in ratio to the number of vehicles and mileage covered, had a far higher productivity than under State control, said Mr. Morton Mitchell, a fact which should be considered seriously before any attempt was made to " rush us into wholesale nationalization."
CONFIDENT NEWCOMER GRANTED LICENCE
LTHOUGH five private operators I-1 and B.R.S. (Pick fords), Ltd., were opposing his application, Mr. J. D. Maw, Newbiggin, Mallon, claimed at Bridlington, last week, that he had such a good case for a new B licence that he did not need counsel. He told Maj. F. S. Eastwood, Yorkshire Licensing Authority, that he wanted to take a vehicle off C licence to undertake furniture removals within 45 miles, which would include York and Scarborough.
He explained that he owned a number of furniture shops, and customers were continually asking him to do removals. As a result he was sub-contracting work to hauliers at York and Scarborough, with himself and his men doing the packing. It was unfair that he should hand out so much work.
Mr. R. Paterson, for the objectors, said they were in a benevolent mood, and suggested a 15-mile radius, which excluded York and Scarborough. Maj. Eastwood agreed to this.
B.T.C. SUBSIDY TO END THE subsidy paid by the British Transport Commission to the WilsdenCullingworth and the Clayton circular bus services should be withdrawn, the Yorkshire Transport Users' Consultative Committee have recommended. General Sir Roy Bucher, chairman, has told the objectors to the proposal that services receiving a subsidy of the amount involved could not be regarded as justifiable. The subsidy will be withdrawn on October 1. B5