H.M.F. Wants Licence Procedure Simplified
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ASTRONG cOndemnation of con trols; as they now exist, and a drastically simplified procedure for the obtaining of -A licences, were the main points stressed by Mr. Arnold Kirby, chairman of Haulier § Mutual Federation, in a speech at the a.g.m. of the Federation, held at Leicester, last week. • Speaking of the danger of totalitarianism in the industry, he said that commercial gain waS not theonly inrentive, even in the life of a haulage contractor. The -dark and sinister shadow of 73B, and the M.O.W.T. haulage scheme, kaid -Mr. Kirby, continue to sap the 'vitality of the road
transport -industry, t•
Freedom of enterprise, if it means anything; said the speaker, means freedom of -enterprise for the Other man,
as well as for oneself. This led him to the lot of the returning soldier, who, he said, did not want charity, but freedom to carve out his own career.
He then dealt with a decision of the National Council of the Federation in respect of a suggested drastic -change in the procedure of securing a licence for vehicle operation. He referred to the conditions as proposed by the Royal Commission on Transport, 14 years ago, in which a licence should be issued subject 'to the, vehicle being kept in fit condition meehanically, to the -pay-, ment of reasonable (now statutory) wages, and proper conditions of employment. That, he said, was the last authoritative statement.
The following three -resolutions were then put forward (1) That the present licensing
system, he replaced by a simple A licence, issued subject to (a) vehicle fitness, (b) wages paid, (c) terms aud.conclitions of carriage, (d) hours, (e) -speed limit, (2) e, licences -to be subject to the foregoing conditions, but to be issued to the operator to carry only his own goods.
(3) That the present restriction on B licences be continued, as at present, for a period, so that the position may be exaruined and I.( adjusted to the new position created.
Mr. Kirby. as elected president of H.M.F. and the following were also appointed : Mr. E. B. Howes, • chairman ; Mr. Richard Murphy, vicechairman; Mr. A. E. Marks, treasurer, and Mr. 1), 1). Jewett, secretary.