MIDLAND MOTOR HAULIERS MEET AND DINE.
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I N the course of its manifold activities in the interest of local industries, the Nottingham Chamber: of Commerce has embarked upon .no. more practical work than that which is represented by the motor haulage trade section of its organization. Inaugurated a little over 15 months ago, the operations have been attended with eminently practical results, thanks to the admirable manner in which arrangements that owed their inception to Mr. Gregory Meakin, secretary of the Chamber, have been carried out by the director of the work, Mr. W. Donaldson Wright, acting in harmony with a representative committee of the haulage trade, with Mr. G. H. P. Dalgleish as chairman.
Manufacturers, particularly in connection with the textile trades, which depend very largely for the success of their export business upon rapid transmission of goods to the main ports, have been very hearty in their support of Plans which have come as a Welcome relief to belated railway methods. •
Nottingham has set an excellent example in the matter to Midland towns, and its near neighbours, Leicester and Derby, have not been slow in the adoption of similar provisions, with the result that there has emerged from the several arrangements a well co-ordinated scheme of clearing houses conducing to the celerity and great efficiency of the work.
Followed by a dinner at the Albert Hotel, under the Presidency of Mr. J. S. B22
Bridgett, the vice-chairman of the Nottingham Chamber, the annual meeting of the scetiui was held on Tuesday evening, when a report was presented indicating that the growth during the year had been of a highly encouraging character.
The utility of the work, under the auspices of the section, has been amply demonstrated by the institution of a biWeekly service to London and regular services to Liverpool and .Manchester, a special feature of the recent operations being a " smalls " service between Nottingham and London, with adequate arrangements for collection and delivery.
At the subsequent dinner at which Mr. Briclgett presided, the vice-chair was occupied by Mr. A. J. Savage; director of Holmes Transport, Ltd., and there was present a represenative company.
Mr. H. A. Bennett, chairman of ilu? East Midlands. Joint Industrial Councils for the Transport Industry, in proposing the principal toast. that of " Success to the Motor Haulage Trade Seetion of the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce," alluded to the marked success which had attended the transport scheme inaugurated by the Chamber. The haulage industry had happily now become firmly established, presenting a very different aspect from that of 12 or 14 years ago when it was started. Vehicles now were very different indeed; as also were the men who drove them.
The Nottingham. Chamber of Commerce had been first in the country to establish a transport section-, its position being unique and a great deal of the. success which had been attained had been due to the efforts of its secretary, Mr. Donaldson" Wright, who had given an immense amount of time to the work, spreading his investigations for information all over the country. There were almost
illimitable prospects in relation to the opertions, the success of whirls would, he hoped, be enhanced by all working to secure a common purpose.
The Chairman; in reply, said that the Road Haulage Seetion of the Chamber's work was brought into existence through the persistent efforts of their secretary, Mr. Gregory Meakin, and the sucCess of • the work had been due to the great care and attention of Mr. Donaldson Wright. It was not started at the most hopeful of times, but had been brouglii into a condition of great vigour through the guidance which Mr. Donaldson Wright had exercised. The expeditiousness attending road transport work had commended itself to all manufacturers, who naturally preferred its celerity to the slow process of railway conveyance, He said the Council of the Chamber of Commerce was delighted with the success which had attended the scheme. Both the chairman and Mr. Dalgleisb, who also spoke, argued strongly against any extension of railway companies rights in respect of road transport.
Mr. W. Donaldson Wright, in reply, acknowledged the cordially appreciative nature of the references to the work of his department.