" . . . . RESTRICTING THE RIGHT OF THE TRADER. . . ."
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We understand from the A.R.O. that Hammersmith and Shepherd's Bush Chamber of Trade and Commerce has sent the following resolution to the Ministry of Transport and to the National Chamber of Trade :—" That this Chamber views with some concern a recent decision by the Appeal Tribunal under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, whereby. two North Shields haulage firms have lost their licences.
" This decision tends to confirm the belief that the Act is seriously restricting the right of the trader to choose which form of transport he will employ. The Chamber welcomes the recent assurances of the Minister of Transport that he is aware of the consequences of the decision and is giving consideration to the matter."
A.R.O. Official's Recovery.
Captain J. W. Jones, deputy chairman of the A.R.O., who has recently been seriously ill in a nursing home, was on Friday last sufficiently recovered to return to his home, and it is hoped that he will shortly be able to resume his full activities with the Association.
Newcastle Haulage-rates Increase.
Owing to new wage concessions, the Newcastle Road and Transport Employers Association has decided to increase haulage rates immediately by 10 per cent, for local work and 5 per cent, for long-distan,ce work. The Association states that increased operating costs have also made the higher rates imperative.
C.M.U.A. and Smethwick M.P.
Mr. A. R. Wise, M.P. for Sinethwick Division, attended a packed meeting of members of the West Bromwich area of the C.M.U.A. on April 7. The meeting was arranged with the object of placing a few facts before Mr. Wise which might give him a better understanding of the many problems confronting the industry.
He agreed that there were many problems with regard to road transport, and that one of these was the burden of heavy taxation, but qualified this by saying that all sections of the
• community are similarly burdened. He did, however, admit that there might he some grounds for complaint with regard to licences, and that the scales are weighted in favour of the
railway companies. He was not in favour of making new roads, and felt that the value of the land for agricultural purposes outweighed the necessity for these. Mr. Wise contended that a large percentage of road accidents was due to speed.
Mr. J. L. Kinder, C.M.U.A. National Organizer, replied to Mr, Wise. He stated that those interested in the roadtransport industry were most anxious to reduce the number of road accidents, hut felt that the responsibility should be shared by all road users equally. He felt sure that if the figures of road accidents quoted by Mr. Wise were properly analysed the commercialvehicle driver would have the best record. With reference to speeds, Mr. Kinder said that, in his view, and in the view of many experts, the raising of the goods speed limit would be conducive to greater safety, and give an even traffic flow.
Mr. Wise promised to give what support he could to the transport industry and to meet the C.M.U.A. members again, when some further, and, perhaps, less general, 'points could be put before him.