R.H.A. Activity in the Metropolitan Regional Area
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THE first annual general meeting of the Metropolitan Regional Area of the Road Haulage Association was held at Essex House, Finsbury Square, London, E.C.1, on May 24, when Mr.
J. F. E. Pye, the chairman, presided.
Mr. Pyc expressed disappointment at the size of the attendance, but pointed out that since June, 1932, the membership of the Metropolitan Area had in: creased from 40 to 500. Reviewing the work of the area over the past two years (no annual meeting was held last year), Mr. Pye referred with admiration to the work -of Capt. E. G. GordonPoggi, who carried out _the duties _of secretary until July, last. Since then Mr. R. E. Tyrrell had acted in this capacity.
A full committee has now been completed, comprising members from the four sub-areas, and work is proceeding on a proper basis. A rates committee has been set up and more time is to be devoted to this difficult problem. In addition, a small committee, consisting of Mr. Pye as chairman, with Messrs.
K. Simpson and L. Hay Bittel, is to take over the groundwork of the Metro politan Area before matters are laid before the full committee.
The business of the meeting continued with the election of three members of the committee. The members retiring by rotation were Capt. E. G. Gordon-Poggi, Mr. W. H. Worrell and Mr. 0. R. Owen, who were re-elected by an unanimous vote.
Following the business of the meeting, Messrs. F. F. Fowler and H. J. Lloyd, members of the National Council of the R.H.A., spoke briefly on matters of importance to the haulier. Mr. Lloyd said that the haulage industry is passing through a transformation period. Hauliers generally had been slow to realize that the day of the individual was past, and that owners must now look upon themselves as being in partnership with the Ministry of Transport. Individuals cannot deal with the mass of legislation to-day.
Mr. Lloyd concluded with a call to all members to vote for sound leadership. Only under the leadership of men of vision and courage could the haulage industry face the future with any degree of confidence. Mr. Fowler opened his remarks with a tribute to the work of the Metropolitan Area Committee. The quality of membership in London was excellent, he said, but many more members must be obtained. In many parts of. the country membership of the R.H.A. has reached 100 per cent., but apathy has not yet been lifted from the Metropolis.
He went on to say that the R.H.A. has built up a financial position of great strength, and he hopes that, in the forthcoming year, the association will be in a position to be more liberal to individual areas than in the past.
Referring to Mr. Lloyd's remark regarding the haulier being in partnership with the Ministry, Mr. Fowler asked, " Is he to be the senior or junior partner?" It would, he said,be only through the work of the R.H.A. that they may in time be able to lay claim to the senior partnership. "The next two years are likely to be the turning point in the road-haulage industry, and part 2 of the Road Act must be carefully watched," concluded Mr. Fowler.
Before the meeting closed Mr. Pye 'vacated the chair in favour of Mr. L. Hay Bittel, senior vice-chairman, in order that a representative from the Metropolitan Area should be elected to the National Council. Mr. j. F. E. Pye was re-electea as the Metropolitan Area representative.