Small Hauliers Appoint Committee of Offence
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Mass Meeting of Operators in London Rally with the Council of Retail Distributors to Form an Offensive and Defensive Alliance Against the Encroachment of Monopoly
AWARNING that, after the war. the railways will stage a campaign with the object of arranging for all transport to be controlled, was given by Captain L. D. Gammans, M.P. (Hornsey), when he presided at a mass meeting of hauliers held at the Caxton Hall on Wednesday of last week.
The meeting had been arranged under the auspices of the Council of Retail Distributors, 'a body which has taken upon itself the responsibility of fighting for the small and indePendent retailer against the encroachment of monopolistic combines. The purpose of the meeting is clearly-shown by the following four resolutions, the first of which was passed unanimously and the others with but a small number of dissentients. There was an audience_of approximately 400.
The Four Resolutions
(1) That in the opinion of this meeting of hauliers, the Government Scheme for the, control of long-distance traffic results—
(a) In the waste of man-power and material resources; (b) in a reduction in the amount of traffic per vehicle; (c) in injuring the morale of ehose engaged in the industry; and (d) is incompetent to deal with the situation arising from additional 'traffic by road, and this meeting advocates the withdrawal of thes Scheme by the Ministry of War Transport.
-(2) That in the opinion of this meeting of hauliers the interests of the smaller and independent haulier are not sufficiently safeguarded by the present machinery existing for that purpose, and that it is advisable and necessary to supplement that machinery by the creation of an organization the special purpose of which it shall be to promote and protect the interests of the smaller and independent haulier.
(3) That this meeting of hauliers hereby authorizes the Council of Retail Distributors to take such steps as may be necessary to create an organization the special purpose of which it shall be to promote And protect the interests of the smaller and independent haulier.
(4) That this meeting of hauliers hereby elects a Provisional Committee for the purpose of determining the constitution of the proposed organization.
Mr. j. Arnold Kirby, of Leicester, proposed the first resolution. He gave details of a good many instances of extravagance and waste which, he claimed, had resulted from the operation of the Government Scheme. He reminded his hearers that the prosperity of this country had been built up by the industry of the smaller and independent trader, and that the need for even more intensive individual effort was bound to prevail when this
war was over. This proposal was seconded by Mr. A. Rutty and carried unanimously.
A discussion then followed, in which a prominent part was taken by Mr. Sidney Meredith, of the Midland Area. He told the story of his own experience in road transport, startieg as a small man, buildina° up his business to something worth having when war broke out. He spoke of the effective work done by himself and his men, whom he regarded is colleagues, during the blitz when, as he pointed out, there was no Government control and no need for unity of control as is now the plea for the retention of the Government Scheme.
Amongst other speakers was Mr. Walker, of the Northern Area, who told of an interview in which he participated when the Minister pointed out that other industries also were controlled, and Mr. Walker said that his reply was that other industries might be controlled but not in such a manner as to make that industry bankrupt, as was going to be the outcome of this method of controlling the road-transport industry.
Another speaker was Mr. Ellis, of Wales. He said that the question they had to face was: " Is the Scheme satisfactory from the national point of view; did it economize in fuel, rubber and man-power?" The answer that every knowledgeable man would give is that there is no saving of any but rather an extravagance in all.
Hauliers Must Not Expect Pre-war Liberties
Captain Gammons intervened at this stage to warn the hauliers present that they must obviously not expect to be able to obtain their pre-war liberties. The point that they were trying to make was that this present Scheme was neither sound nor economic.
Mr. E. B. Howes, of Harpenden, said that in his view the Government intended to gain control of the industry by manipulation of this Scheme. He said that what we all would like to know is the name of the man who was originally responsible for it; he thought he ought to be put on trial.
Mr. T. Nelson, of Liverpool, referring to a statement made by Mr. Ellis, of Wales, concerning the complete loss of his traffic over a given route as the result of the operation of the Government Scheme, said that that traffic had been passed to him and he had to travel 40 and 20 miles empty in order to pick up traffic which was practically at Mr. Ellis's door. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
The second resolution was moved by Mr.. M. W. Harris. His introductory remarks were mainly historical. indicating stage by stage the method in which shackles had been put upon this industry, starting from 1932, the date of the Salter Conference and carrying right through to to-day. He mentioned the Waldorf Group and stated that, in his opinion, this Government Scheme was, in effect, identical with that proposed to the Government in 1941 by
the Waldorf Group. '
Mr. F. Rudman, who seconded, said that it was accepted that some control was necessary, hut there was, no justification for the enforcement of a scheme which must inevitably have the effect of crushing the small man. Why change;an established system which has proved itself, unless there is some ulterior motive?
Mr. Nelson, of Liverpool, doubtcf! if it was the time to form a new associafilm, and saidthat there was already • one in existence which could do the work. Another speaker was Mr. B. Winterbottom, of Manchester, who said • that he was amazed at this stage, just when we were 'hoping to unite the whole of the industry in one big organization, that there should be any suggestion of forming another associa
tion. Mr. A. May, of London, supported Mr. Nelson. The resolution was carried with six dissentients.
Mr. A. A. Oxley, of London, moved the third resolution. He said that, in his opinion, better results were much more likely to accrue from private enterprise than Government control, and that resolution, seconded by Mr. R. Murphy, of Leicester, was carried
with seven dissentients. . •
The fourth resolytion was proposed by Mr. Bouckley, of the Midlands. He said. that opportunity was something which knocked at our doors but once and was not likely to come again. He thought this was an opportunity to obtain for the smaller and independent haulier the support he so badly needed. He mentioned the Council of Actim, formed in the Midlands, which had somewhat similar objects.
When Forces Men Return
Councillor Williams, of Luton, seconded the proposal and said that an important thing which they must keep in mind was the prospects of employment for men in the Forces when they return. Very many of them were attached to the business of smaller and independent hauliers and they would look forward t being able to return to their pre-war occupations.
The resolution was carried with only two against, and the meeting then proceeded to elect its Provisional Committee as follows, one from each of the areas into which the country is divided under the Road and Rail Traffic Act:— Eastern Area, Mr. E. B. Howes; London and Middlesex, Mr. A. May; Midlands, Mr Bouekler North Eastern, Mr. McGregor; North Midlands, Mr. J. Arnold Kirby; North Western, Mr. T. Nelson; South Western, Mr. Hulbert; Southern, Mr. Goodman; Wales, Mr Ellis; Scotland. Mr McPhee. The North and South Eastern Areas seers left for the moment, g representative to be appointed subsequently.