Stabilizing Rates in the West
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ASERIES of meetings to be held in the country districts around Plymouth was inaugurated, last week, by one at Lamerton, under the auspices of the Plymouth sub-area of the Road Haulage Association. Mr. J. R. l. Bradford presided, and was supported by the vice-chairman, Mr. F. J_ Curtis, and Messrs. R. W. Fennamore, A.I.S.A., and C. Worden, who are the joint. secretaries. The meeting at Lamcrton was held at the request of the Tavistuck members.
Mr. Fennamore remarked that it was intended to hold another country meeting shortly, either at Kingsbridge or Salcombe. He submitted a report of a meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Rates Committee, which has been set up under the presidency of Mr. F. T. Clarke (Exeter). Mr. Fennamore stated that the committee hoped to arrange for lectures to be given on . subjects of interest to members.
Mr. Curtis declared that he was not satisfied that the rural districts were sufficiently represented on the rates committee, and he asked that two delegates should be appointed. Ratecutting was as prevalent to-day as it was 12 months ago, and hauliers must combine to maintain fair rates. He advocated that line of action, rather than waiting for the decision of the rates committee, which would take some months to reach.
The chairman said that the committee required a member who understood cattle traffic, for this branch of the ifflustry was becoming important. Messrs. G. J. White and C. H. Knapton were elected to the committee.
Mr. Bradford said that the proposed amalgamation of the R.H.A. and the Commercial Motor Users Association was delayed for the time being, as one or two amendments had been put forward which the R.H.A. did not feel inclined to accePt. He forecast that the position in the haulage industry would soon be such that non-members would be asking to be allowed to join the R.H.A. Mr. Bradford pointed out that, when rates were established, they would he binding.
Mr. Curtis explained that a clause would be inserted in municipal contracts to the effect that hauliers must pay the wages fixed by the Joint Conciliation Board. He added that they would have to be careful in fixing rates and must not try to obtain inflated prices, otherwise customers might buy their own vehicles.
it was reported that Messrs. Luxton Brothers, wholesale fruit merchants, of Plymouth, were the first C licensees to join the Plymouth branch of the R.H.A.