R.H.A. STRENGTH IN THE WEST
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THE largest meeting of hauliers yet held in Plymouth took place last Saturday, when, after addresses by Mr. W. E. Aston, chairman of the West Midland Area, and member of the national council of the Road Haulage Associa'tion, and of the national rates committee, and Mr. J. Foley Egginton, West Midland secretary and solicitor, the majority of those present joined the Cornwall and Devon area of the RITA. Mr. C. Hodgson, chairman of the area, presided. .
Mr. Aston said that after an existence of barely three years, the Association now had a membership of 4,500, representing some 25,000 vehicles, and was an integral part of the "This Association ought to have 10,000 members," declared Mr. Aston, " for it is only by unity that you can hope to have your interests guarded. The Minister of Transport has estimated that 60,000 vehicles will carry A licences, but I think that he is a long way short. I think that there will be more than 100,000 A-licence vehicles. It is probable that you will be asked to nominate a delegate to serve on the National Wages Board," he continued, "and when this wages problem is settled, we will tackle price-cutting."
It had been said that the R.H.A. did not cater for the little men who travelled only short journeys, remarked Mr. Egginton. That was entirely untrue. In the West Midlands they had decided to set up a separate section for short-distance hauliers, and would presently segregate all those who covered journeys up to 50 miles.
Mr. FIodgson stated that the present Devon and Cornwall Area was shortly, to be divided. into six districts, of which three would be in each county, with its own committee and power to nominate two delegates to the central area committee.