It Will Pay Hauliers to Look Ahead
Page 14
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THOSE members of Associated Road Operators who do not support the view that an increase in theannual subscription is advisable must, we• imagine, be few. The wisdom of putting something by for a rainy day can seldom have been better exemplified. Rainy days, troublous times • for the industry, will inevitably come when the war, and the immediate post-war period, is over. When that time comes it will be more than ever necessary for hauliers to be united and fully prepared to stand up for their rights.
The pre-war activities of the Association, temporarily suspended, will need to be taken up again with redoubled vigour, at proportionately enhanced expense. The problems of licensing will again present themselves for solution, as will those of rates stabillzation. The struggle with the railway companies may or may not be renewed : the prospects in that direction will be lightened or darkened inproportion as the activities of the Road and Rail Conference bear fruit. In either case, funds will be required, for if. they be not needed for the latter purpose they will be necessary to finance the operation of the Conference. We must all hope for a better feeling, for we are looking forward to a period of reconstruction, and, for that, peace in industry is the first essential.
Be Prepared for Hard Times These are major matters, which will absorb only part of the attention of the Association and its officials. There will be no diminution, but rather an increase in the detail work which they will be called upon .'to perform, the individual aid to members, the preservation and expansion of that co-operation and goodwill which, already to be observed before the war began, has been fostered by the spirit of self-denial and good-fellowship which has been engendered during the war. There can be no denying the likelihood, forecast in the announcement of the proposed increase, that hard times will come. It will be the duty of the Association to help the industry individually as well as collectively, to weather that storm. What , could be more reasonable, therefore, than the suggestion that hauliers should prepare for that period now, while they are reasonably prosperous? Nor is the reminder of the savings effected• for its members by the increased wear and tear allowance, won for hauliers by the efforts of the Association, an untimely one, or in the least out of place. It is certain that the economies thus effected will suffice to pay the increased Subscription many times over.
A Committee on Reconstruction in this copnection it is good news that the Association has alreadyformed a committee to prepare plans for after-the-war reconstruction. Its terms of reference should cover a considerable variety of subjects, not the least of which are those we have mentioned above. This Committee has our best wishes for a successful outcome of its labours.
The fear has been expressed that an increase in subscription may deter hauliers, not yet members, from joining the Association, and may even have the effect of reducing the membership. We are of opinion that those who hold that view under-rate the public spirit of members of the industry. This announcement, coupled, as we think it will be, in the near future, with another setting forth some of the items which form the post-war programme, .should cause non-members to rally in support of the Association, indicating their agreement in the ,onlypracticable and useful way by joining, paying their. subscriptions, and continuing to pay them promptly and regularly.