Mutual Protection
Page 62
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IT/HEN hauliers forgather, the conversation usually turns to W clearing houses and, as often as not, one in particular is the subject of odious comment. The strange thing is that the business continues to thrive. '
As hauliers are apparently incapable of taking care of themselves, their Association might act on their behalf. The Road Haulage Association should, I suggest, require every member to sign a declaration that he will not deal with a clearing house not approved by the national council. Approved clearing houses would not necessarily be members of the R.H.A., but might be nominated by hauliers for inclusion in a select list. Every clearing house would require at least 10 independent nominees and would be voted on to the list by the national council.
Who will sponsor a resolution on these lines at the R.H.A. conference at Torquay next October? I can think of many worse proposals that have appeared in conference agendas,
Fraternizing
EVEN during nationalization, relations between British Road J--4 Services and private-enterprise hauliers were happier in the south of England than in many other parts of the country. Goodwill continues and both sides of,the industry work together amicably. Introducing Mr. W. J. Irons, Southampton district manager 'of B.R.S., and the railway district manager as guests at the annual dinner of the Southampton Sub-area of the Road Haulage Association, last Friday, Mr. J. H. G. Barber. chairman, said he regarded them as colleagues in transport. This broad-mindedness is characteristic of him and was, of course, the cause of a serious disagreement in the R.H.A. several years ago.
But as he has been chairman of the sub-area for nine years, the local members 'must find his views acceptable. 1, too. am always pleased to listen to them.
Come Snow and High Water
I T had been feared that the heavy snowfall would keep many people at home, but about 180 undaunted spirits, all determined to enjoy themselves, arrived for the dinner. There was no doubt that they were all pleased they had forsaken their firesides and television screens.
When they rose to toast the guests, the Association members were, I noticed, outnumbered by at least eight to one, which seemed to be as good an excuse as any for having one over the eight.
One of the biggest parties was appropriately headed by Mr. Jack Hill, who is himself one of the biggest private-enterprise n28
hauliers in the country, with interests ranging from cattle to bulk liquids. But he is not one of those who, on festive occasions, take their liquid in bulk.
The Name's the Same'
FOR many years Croydon has had two coach operators with the name of Bennett. Each week, one or other of them has been asked whether the two companies are the same. The answer now is that they are, for Albert Bennett and Sons, Ltd., Sandpits Road, Shirley, have recently bought the shares of John Bennett (Croydon), Ltd.
The Shirley business, which includes horticultural interests, was founded in the 18th century—strangely enough by a Mr. John Bennett—and is one of the oldest concerns in the Croydon area. The Croydon company have been in existence since 1922.
Seeing is Believing
MAJOR F. S. EASTWOOD, chairman of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, has a reputation for finding out things for himself. To test the evidence of operators who wished to run coach services to London Airport, he spent two chilly days in travelling by Underground and London Transport bus from Kings Cross to the airport and back, and by the Thames Valley stage service from Victoria Coach Station. He carefully timed each journey.
At London Airport he met a Liverpool businessman who found it much quicker and cheaper to travel by air than by rail to the capital. He was also shown figure's at the airport which suggested that the aeroplane was taking the place of coaches for holiday travel. This thoroughness is probably why Maj. Eastwood's decisions on passenger applications are so often upheld on appeal.
Water, Water NoWhere.
THE main problem in launching a lifeboat from a Crane
trailer at Wells-next-the-Sea, last week, was to find the sea. Arriving without seaboots on the edge of a soggy Saharalike plateau, I encountered the lifeboat full of life, overflowing with inspectors, cameramen, engineers and, as an afterthought, the crew.
Without warning the tractor started for the middle horizon.
slithered off in pursuit. Several miles later I had collected 61 lb. of mud amalgam on each trouser leg, shoefuls of sea water and two cockle shells. with still no sign of the sea or the lifeboat. I eventually found them at a spot apparently just short of Heligoland Bight. When I got back my companion laughingly pointed to a pair of seaboots in the back of his car.