Liverpool Operators Call for Merger
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'THAT the associations should amal gamate for the benefit of the industry in general was the resolution which was passed by the meeting held under the auspices of A.R.O. (NorthWestern Area), in Liverpool, on Monday.
In his opening remarks, Mr. R. B. Stockdale, who presided, voiced the opinion that the industry was approaching a crisis which would require full strength of resistance if it were to emerge without suffering further injury. To combat these new difficulties the associations must utilize that force
unity—of which, hitherto, they had refused to avail themselves. In unified control was the industry's one hope of salvation. Machinery in the industry for dealing with rates and wages was imperfect and lack of standardization was regarded with disfavour by traders generally. If this state of affairs were not remedied promptly by voluntary effort, the Government would certainly do so by further legislation.
"I do not deviate from my opinion that our industry is already over legislated and any extension of regulation by this method is undesirable," declared Mr. Stockdale. "Nevertheless, I would welcome Government intervention to produce unification and orderly control of our industry, if it be the only way to escape from our present state of chaos."
Major the Hon. Eric Long, T.D., J.P., political adviser to Aa.o., dealt with the steps taken to secure adequate representation of the industry in the House of Commons, where there is now
a road-transport committee of over 100 members.
Major Long stressed the efforts being made by A.R.O. to secure a reduction in taxation and protested against the use of the Road Fund for purposes other than those for which it was formed. Road operators should approach Members of Parliament immediately, and place before them facts concerning the industry, and not wait until the Budget had been produced. co-operate in joint action on matters of mutual interest. Nevertheless, having approved the principle of a Yorkshire committee, the C.M.U.A. appointed representatives to attend this week's meeting with delegates from other bodies.
The amalgamation or the Y.S.C.O.A. (which had previously considered a rne'ger with the C.M.U.A.) and the Yorkshire area of A.R.O. will give a united membership of nearly 3,000 operators. The proposals considered, this week, provided for the merging of the organizations under the title of the Yorkshire Transport Association, with amalgamated staffs concentrated at the present offices—with additional accom • modation—of the Y.S.C.O.A., in Ba.singliall Street, Leeds.
Before they met this week the executives had already received a mandate from their members in favour of amalgamation. The organization will be linked up with A.R.O.