EEC hits lorries agrees Minister
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MEMBERS of the Road Haulage Association who gathered in London to take part in the RHA annual dinner sat bemused as they listened to Transport Minister William. Rodgers explain why they had to suffer, because Britain is a member of the EEC.
Mr Rodgers began his speech by saying "the most remarkable and impressive feature of the road haulage industry in this country is the way in which it has continued to expand and prosper over the last 30 years, despite all the vicissitudes of fortune."
He was not sure that everybody agreed with his view of the industry's good fortunes, but nevertheless, haulage in the UK "is a success story."
But then he came to British hauliers and the EEC.
Mr Rodgers urged hauliers to accept "the prospect of additional costs. . . stemming from our membership of the EEC," because that was part of the price for belonging to the Community.
But, he added: "The Government will continue to try and ensure that we get the best bargain we can, and that costs are kept to a minimum."
The Minister accepted the fact that such costs were "bound to seem painful to the haulage industry."
Mr Rodgers went on to praise the industry for its resilience, and told his audience, that whatever he may do as Secretary of State, it could only be a small part in comparison with what managers could achieve in the way of efficiency and enterprise.
And then there came what seemed to many a warning of things to come — in the White Paper perhaps.
He talked of comparisons that were made between road and rail for carrying freight, and how "many people argue that one mode is inherently superior to the other."
Road, he had heard it said, was always better, because it is quicker and more flexible.
Rail on the other hand, was looked upon by others to be more economical in its use of resources. It also impinged less on the environment.
Such arguments do not ."really get us very far"; and yet, Mr Rodgers called for "a franker admission of the realities of the situation."
And the question of the "environment" was not to be taken lightly, he said.
"On the contrary, I am quite sure that concern for the environment is widely shared and I can well understand the genuine concern felt for the environmental problems that lorries cause."
Hauliers would do well, concluded the Minister, to recognise and respect such concern.