A.R.O. Sets Up North-West Board
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HOPES that a merger of associations would ultimately be achieved were expressed by several speakers at a meeting of passenger-vehicle operators, in Manchester. on Monday, when a sectional passenger board for the NorthWestern Traffic Area (excluding North Wales) was established, Operators from a wide area were present, whilst the Blackpool, Morecambe and Heysham and Southport Associations were represented. Following an address by Mr. F. A. Flin, a resolution was passed approving of A.R.O. policy and promising support.
A truly national association must function in every area, said Mr. R. P. Whipp, who presided.
The best testimony to the value of the Association's work, said Mr. F. A. Flirt, was the past record and he would review briefly what had been done for the operator by the old M.H.C.S.A.
Amongst the achievements had been the suggestion that led to the publication of " Notices and Proceedings," instead of the original plan of applications being advertised in every newspaper along the routes concerned. The Association had freed operators from the necessity of appearing before the Commissioners when there was no opposition. It had done good work in the matter of drivers' hours, also on the question of children and contract carriages.
Inspectors' reports on appeals had followed the Association's requests, aid had been given in the solving of private-hire difficulties, and efforts had been made to obtain an extension of the period of road-service licences.
In future, A.R.O. would be able to offer through its district offices indi vidual help to the operator. "
Visions of a wider merger, including the C.M.U.A., A.A. and R.A.C., were drawn up by Mr. C. Yates Lloyd (Finglands' Hire Cars, Ltd.), who expressed regret at the failure of the original negotiations. The work in the old M.H.C.S.A., and now in A.R.O., was carried on by operators and not by officials, said Mr. Lloyd. New difficulties that arose in London, and were fought out there, were national matters, for, if not stopped at that stage, they would spread to the provinces.
B22 The matter of paying two subscriptions was one that•vitally affected the district, said Mr. H. Allen (Yelloway Motor Services, Ltd.). For many years his company had been represented by the C.M.U.A., which had done valiant work locally, but it had not been backed up nationally. That was why