PROMINENT MEN EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AT R.H.A. FUNCTION
Page 37
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
STRONG speeches were made at the annual dinner of the Devon and Cornwall Area of the Road Haulage Association, at Plymouth, last Saturday, when the area chairman, Mr. C. Hodgson, presided. Those present included Major the Hon. Eric Long, Messrs. R. W. Sewill (chairman, R.H.A.), A. F. Nicholson (Western Licensing Authority), K. G. Foster and J. j. Richards (joint chairmen of the Area Conciliation Board), Humphrey Cooke (area hon. secretary), F. G. Curtis and J. Crews.
Major Long remarked that. his appointment by the Metropolitan Area of the R.H.A. as its Parliamentary adviser was the first of its kind. Referring to anomalies under which the industry worked, he said that recently it had been held in the law courts that an employer could be fined for a wrongful act committed by an employee, even against the employer's in structions. This anomaly had been taken up.
Mr. Sewill paid a tribute to Mr.
Nicholson and , the other Licensing Authorities for the manner in which they carried out their task. He hoped that before many weeks had passed the R.H.A. would have amalgamated with certain other associations into one organization known as the Commercial Road Transport Association.
Mr. Hodgson stated that, in Devon and Cornwall, the R.H.A. had taken up a view contrary to that held in other parts of the country, viz., that there were too many lorries, and that objections should be lodged to applications for further tonnage, unless it could be proved to be essential. Haulage in Devon and Cornwall had recently been unremunerative, and, although the area officials would like to continue their existing policy, he was not certain that they would be able to do so, owing to financial causes.
Mr. Nicholson hoped that, in any amendment to existing legislation which might be sought, the Association .would not leave a loophole for the undesirable operator.