Industry Near "The Crucifixion" of the Small Man
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QTEPS to set up a committee, repre sentative of Yorkshire operators hiring vehicles to the M.O.W.T. under the Government Haulage Scheme, were initiated at an informal meeting of members of the Federation of Yorkshire Road Road Transport Employers, held in Leeds, last week, under the presidency of 'Mr. F. Thompson,. 'the Federation's chairman: With a view to the establishment of a committee fully representative of Yorkshire operators concerned, under the agis of the S.J.C. as in the case of the Yorkshire committee of controlled undertakings, the meeting recommended that A.R.O., the
and the Sheffield Horse and Motor Owners' Association be invited to cooperate with theFederation in convening a county meeting of all such operators.
In the discussion,particularly outspoken criticisms were voiced by Mr. A. Meson, of Gorneral, who said that there had been far too much secrecy in, connection with the scheme.
criticizingthe hiring terms, Mr. Meson said that a careful examination of actual accounts had led him to -the cOnclusion that the rates did not give ' the operator a reasonable existence ' level. Yet these rates had been agreed :f0 by men of knowledge and experience .who, at meeting after meeting,
had cried " My one aim is to look after the small hardier." He added that the combines and the large concerns had been given a whip hand over the small haulier. The industry had come very near to " the crilcifixion "-of the small man. •
Dissatisfaction with the hiring terms was voiced, by various speakers, but Mr. H. Walker, of Brighouse, defended the S.J.C. by saying it was due to the efforts of its Finance Panel that the prices fifially agreed, were considerably better than those originally put forward by the Ministry.
Commenting on an explanation by Mr. Harry Clark (the Federation's manager and secretary) that the M.O.W:T. prepared the schedule of hiring , rates and intimated that it would not consider any alterations to the fundamental frarnework, but only changes in minor details, Mr. meson remarked : " If that is the case, the position is summed up in one word— dictatorship." Reiterating his criticism that the -hiring terms were inadequate, he urged that this matter should be followed up with the utmost determination.
Other speakers took the line that operators might have been in a much worse position than their, present situation under the Government scheme, There was also much discussion on points concerning the operation of the scheme. Referring to a statement that it was proving a success from the standpoint of securing rubber and fuel economies by a reduction irs' mileage, Mr. meson suggested that rubber and fuel were being wasted every day by the manner in which some vehicles were being operated under the scheme.
With reference to relationships between controlled undertakings and operators of hired vehicles in their respective units, it was argued that a controlled undertaking taking over a hired vehicle was not entitled to require the operator of the latter to supply a full list of his customers, along with details of rates he had been charging. Such a demand was held to be based on a wrong interpretation of the regulations.
It was alleged that there had been cases in which traffic, which would normally have been handled by a controlled undertaking, had been diverted by the latter to, a subsidiary undertaking which was not controlled. Such a procedure was condenuied as "a subterfuge for the sake of additional profit." Drivers of controlled vehicles officially returning empty were also said to have picked up " unofficial " loads and pocketed the payment for their carriage.