Pointers to Growth in A.R.O. Membership IF attendance at annual
Page 47
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functions be la criterion. then the steady increase in membership of A.R.O. is wide
spread. At every annual dinner we have attended of late, the report has been the same-a record attendance. The Northern Area (A.R.0.) function was no exception to the rule, since there were 208 present-more than over before.
Mr. W. W. Walton, chairman of the area, presided, and amongst the distinguished guests were the Deputy Lord Mayor and the Sheriff of Newcastle-on-Tyne, the Mayors of Morpeth and Stockton. ..Major H. E. Crawfurd, Messrs. A. Todd and T. Gordon, chairmen of the road haulage and passenger sections of the Association respectively, and Mr. C. M. Camphill, who deputized for Sir John Maxwell, Mr. Camphill confirmed what we
have just stated. Out of 61,000 A and B licensees, 15,000 were members of A.R.O., the number being 25 per cent. In the Northern Area, out of 3,092 A and B licensees, 1,500 were A.R.O. members. Progress of the grouping scheme in this area was better than anywhere in the country,
thanks largely to the efficiency of the A.R.O. organization.
Major Crawfurd referred to comments in the local Press, comparing his speech in the Chamber of Commerce, recently, with that of Mr. Sewill in London on the same day. It had been suggested that he and Mr. Sewill did not speak with one voice. He emphasized the fact that he and Mr. Sewill were entirely in agreement, as • were the other members of the Council and leaders of the industry.
In a matter such as this road-rail controversy, he said, it was necessary that responsible leaders should speak, not merely the truth, but the whole truth. The road-transport industry wanted terms equal to those given to the railways.
What was desirable, he said, was "A condition of things whereby the. manufacturing and trading interests and the travelling public can get the most convenient form of transport at the lowest price."
The toast to the health of the visitors was proposed by Mr. J. Downes (chairman, West Cumberland Sub-area, A.R.O.) and responded to by Mr. F. P. H. Pearse, of the B.R.F.