Veed for powerful voice
Page 27
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
"%NE cannot help but feel sorry for the Road Haulage Association in its present public dilemma. It can ler affront its members by apparently failing to prole advice and backing on costs and rates, or it can ront the not-inconsiderable person of the Minister of ansport, Mrs. Castle. The latter appears to have en done with considerable—if not desirable—effect. )sts have gone up; there is no doubt about that, spite the Minister's asides. The road haulage industry pears to be under public attack by the Socialist overnment (via the same Minister) either by accident by design; there is no doubt about that, again despite e Minister's asides to the contrary.
However, as COMMERCIAL MOTOR said last week, is is not really acceptable as a reason for what appears be another major gaffe over rates on the part of the HA, which surely must still be smarting from the iblic mauling it had at the hands of the Prices and comes Board less than a year ago. Just at the time hen it is coming once more under intense public rutiny, the haulage industry is once more presented ightly or not) as the double-dyed villain interested only maintaining its inflated profits.
Bunkum? Certainly. Poppycock? Agreed. Utter msense? Without any doubt. But who is telling the general public so? On the whole the national Press have given the RHA a gentle ride this time. But they are fickle champions and may easily change sides at any time.
Unfortunately (for them) the RHA is once more in the spotlight; it could equally well be one of the other operator associations next time. Can the others honestly say they would fare better in the same circumstances?
Why doesn't the road transport industry as a whole face the fact that in this day and age independent representation is not enough. The sooner everyone gets together and sets up a powerful suprafactional organization, the better. Until there is one voice for everyone this sort of thing is always liable to happen.
K. C. Turner: welcome choice
NOBODY in the transport industry will do other than heartily applaud the selection of Mr. K. C. Turner as head of the Training Board for the Road Transport Industry. How often operators have bemoaned their lack of representation on official bodies vitally concerning them. Not this time; there could be no better choice. But how ironic that the Board which controversially will not touch C-licensees' employees is to be headed by a C-licensee!