The Merger
Page 45
Page 46
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
More Views from the Industry
OTHER ASSOCIATIONS SHOULD NOW LINK UP.
SINCERELY hope that yoli will continue your efforts I to "rope in " the remaining smaller associations with the new body, for instance, The London Cartage Association would be a useful acquisition, because I am. confident that when the industry can speak with one voice many of the present injustices will be removed.
F. C. GLOVER
London, E.15. (R. J. Weeks).
OPERATING INTERESTS FIRMLY UNITED.
WAS very interested in the article headed " Unity1 the Result of Six Years' Effort." I clearly recollect the work done by your journal in the formation of the original Long Distance Road Haulage Committee and recognized the advisability of your remaining somewhat in the background. Nevertheless, your strong influences were felt.
I am very pleased to note that an agreement has at last been reached and the commercial operating interests are apparently firmly united.
N. A. HARDIE (General Manager [Sales], The Associated Southall. Equipment Co., Ltd.).
ORGANIZING ROAD TRANSPORT.
THE interesting article on unity which appeared in your issue dated March 6, sets forth very clearly and accurately the steps which have been taken to this end during the past few years.
A perusal of this article should satisfy all who have been discontented at the long delay that no efforts have been spared, and no time lost, in bringing these very difficult negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion. Great credit is due to the leaders of the industry for the masterly manner in which they have handled this affair, and they can rightly claim increased confidence from those whom they represent.
I would also pay tribute to the great service rendered by The Commercial Motor in this matter—with special reference to the valuable assistance given by your good self as Editor.
As a result of the merger the danger of Government intervention has been deferred. A breathing space has been provided which should be utilized by intensive action to consolidate our position. I trust it will be fully realized that the merger, powerful as it may be, is only the beginning of our task.
We cannot rest with any sense of security until such time as the whole industry is represented by one national organization and every operator is a member of that organization. It is therefore imperative that every operator should pull his full weight in the effort to accomplish this.
Problems of major importance must be solved in the immediate future—and on the manner of such solution hangs our fate. To all who have carefully considered the involved problem of the nation's transport needs, the danger to our industry is evident. The one hope of salvation clearly lies in complete solidarity, associated with orderly control and necessary discipline.
When considering the problem of our future it is well to keep in mind the position of other interests closely concerned. The transport buyers, for instance, are watching closely the lines on which we are developing. It would not be surprising, therefore, if suggestions for speeding up the orderly control of our industry were to come from this quarter.
With these-thoughts in mind I recommend the closest possible co-operation with all other interested bodies, in order that such steps as may be taken with a view to our future development shall be based on uniform lines.
R. B. STOCKDALE.
Liverpool, 2. (Motor Carriers (Liverpool), Ltd.) MEMBERS SHOULD BE PATIENT DURING THE CHANGE-OVER.
EVERYONE has been waiting for and, incidentally, has wanted, the C.M.U.A.-A.R.O. merger. I think one might say that in the past there has been a certain amount of suspicion as between individuals in the two organizations, that being entirely due, to my mind, to the fact that the constituents of the, two organizations did not know each other, and in the absence of any firsthand knowledge, took the view that the other side were dangerous people to mix with.
Since the decision of the two National Councils I have had the opportunity of speaking to a number of menabers of both sides, and from all parts I have had expressions of satisfaction and on not one occasion have I heard a dissentient note.
It now remains for the two organizations to get together and form what I should call a Committee of Construction, and for the amalgamated associations to produce an organization run on sound business principles and able to give the utmost benefit to the members. In order to do that we shall require the support of every member and, incidentally, their patience, during the transitory period of the change-over.
Manchester, 3. W. E. MACVE.
TIME MUST BE SPENT IN ACTION—NOT DISCUSSION.
THE announcement in your issue of March 6 is, of course, one which must be welcomed by all members of the industry, and perhaps to some of us who have had such a long time in negotiation a feeling of relief is bound to be present. I am sure that the result of six years' efforts must be pleasing to all, and of you, who inaugurated the new body those six years ago, special mention should be made.
I have been actively connected with the work for over four years, and I pause to think now of the amazing voluntary service which has been given and which has led to this ultimate goal. The one thing which clouds joyful moments is that our original leader and colleague, the late Mr. E. C. Marston,•is not present to see the results, which were largely due to his original efforts. Only those of us who were his more personal friends realize the anxieties with which he was beset, but even those who did not agree with some of his actions still praise him for his loyalty and devotion. There is much to be done and, as usual, little time in which to do it. It is my earnest hope that time will not be lost in discussion, but that it will be spent in action. J. F. E. PYE.
(Managing Director, H. Pye and Son, Ltd.) London, S.E.16.
AN AID TO FURTHER CO-OPERATION.
NEWS of the successful termination of negotiations for the merger of the C.M.U.A. and A.R.O. has been received with great pleasure and satisfaction by the Council and, we doubt not, the entire membership of the Industrial Transport Association. Since half the six members of the negotiating committee responsible for this result are also prominent members of the Industrial Transport Association, and many of our members represent their firms on the central and area governing bodies of one of the two organizations now merging, it will be appreciated that the influence of the members of our Association has all along been exercised in favour of unity.
May we record our keen appreciation of the statesmanlike part played by The Commercial .Motor in the creation and strengthening of the organization of road vehicle operators of all kinds. Not all of the thousands of members of the unified association will be fully aware of the early history of those efforts, or the self-sacrificing work of many of the men who have built these two big associations. Your own comments on the good news are eminently fitting : in our view the whole industry should realize the debt it owes to The Commercial Motor for its initiative, friendly advice, suggestions, fair presentation of news, and general liaison work.
Whatever the future holds in the way of a more scientific planning of all transport facilities to meet national needs, it is all to the good that a powerful, truly national, and far-sighted body of men should be working in harmony and able to express the authentic view of the road transport industry, and to improve the organization of that industry from within itself. To-day the distinctive place of our own Association as the national, personal, professional organization of industrial-transport officers is well understood. It is our concern to promote the professional status and individual business interests of every one of our members, whether concerned with the handling of goods by road, rail, canal, sea or air. So we maintain a policy of im partiality between the different types of transport service. Yet there are many points affecting the interests
of our members as users of road vehicles on which, as heretofore, co-operation with other bodies of road users will be feasible and natural. On such matters it will. now prove easier to implement our wish to co-operate,
J. A. DUNNAGE (General Secretary, Industrial Transport Association). London, S.W.1.
THE TECHNICAL PRESS CALLED UPON TO CONTINUE ITS ASSISTANCE.
T0 my way of thinking you are more than justified in taking a large share of credit in the satisfactory conclusion of years of negotiating. I think that all the original members of the Long Distance Road Haulage Committee of Inquiry freely recognize what you did to start them off. Although myself not a member of that Committee, my membership of the old L.D.R.H.A. was No. 9, so that I can claim to have been in the movement practically from the beginning, and I have often heard original members refer to the inaugural luncheon given by you.
Whilst feeling that an important milestone in the organization of the industry has now been passed, I think that it is more than ever essential that the officers of the Association should receive every possible assistance from the Technical Press, by way of publicity, to ensure n continuance of effort. If the effort slackens all the good of the past wilt be undone.
C. HODGSON St. Austell. (The Heavy Transport Co., Ltd.).