Rates—Government Must Help Says R.H.A. Chief
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THE road haulage industry was another example of what must be one of the main temptations for any government. They found themselves with a problem affecting one industry, and in seeking a solution disturbed another industry which up to that time was happy in having no problems. This was stated by Mr. J. B. Mitchell, national chairman of the Road Haulage Association, in Brighton at the R.H.A. Conference banquet on Wednesday evening. A full report of the conference starts on page 376.
The industry provided the service the public wanted at a reasonable price and would continue to do so. said Mr. Mitchell. They would continually improve upon that service unless deliberately prevented. Yet hauliers found that they were threatened, either clearly or obscurely, by actions that may have been prOmpted by good intentions, in that they were designed to improve some other part of the economy.. The imposition of the extra 3d. per gallon on the tax on liquid fuel was an example, in that it affected one of the country's vital industries.
Extra costs sooner or later had to be passed on to their customers in trade and industry. For the moment members of the Association, except where it has been found absolutely necessary, had not passed on this tax increase. Moreover, if the Chancellor could see his way, before the end of 1961, to remove this particular imposition this may not be necessary.
Plain Invitation Mr. Mitchell added that he hoped this plain invitation would not be ignored. If the Chancellor wished hauliers to help him it was not unreasonable to ask him to help them in return.
Parliament would shortly be discussing a Bill designed to improve the lot of the railways, Mr. Mitchell added. Whilst this was not something which hauliers would oppose for the sake of opposing, they would like to impress on Mr. Marples that he should avoid including in his Bill clauses that might react unfavourably upon road haulage merely to bolster up a form of transport that was gradually declining.
Approach to Congestion
Similarly, this was the Association's approach to any measures designed to improve the road traffic situation pending the completion of an adequate road system. It was too easy to suppose that the traffic problem could be solved by imposing more and more restrictions on the use of goods vehicles. Whilst they were confident that the Minister appreciated. the point, a reminder at the beginning of a new session of Parliament would not be unreasonable.
There was also the projected Road Traffic Bill. It had not been possible to pass the original measure during the last session of Parliament and Mr. Mitchell paid tribute to Lord Teyn ham for the useful amendments which he helped to put forward in the House of Lords. They hoped that in the framing of the new Bill the Government had taken account of the details and informed.criticism already put a 12 forward. By insisting on this qualification for a period of six months for three convictions for certain comparatively minor offences, the Government might well deprive hauliers of some of their best drivers.
Commenting that this was the first conference during which they had ample reason for referring to the transport situation in other countries, Mr. Mitchell said that if Britain did enter the Common Market they would like to urge that the claims of road haulage should not be neglected.
He suggested that it was now time to set up a special section at the Ministry of Transport to deal specifically with international transport problems which entry into the Common Market would make so much more important. Whilst appreciating efforts that had been made in the past, he felt that this suggestion would go a long way towards meeting the greater requirements which would appear in the future.
Call for Road Building Speed-up
"IF roads continue to be developed at I their present speed, we shall achieve an absolutely stationary transport system." Mr. D. G. Stokes, president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said this on Tuesday at the S.M.M.T. annual dinner, in London.
He welcomed the U.K. application to join the Common Market as he would any effort to promote free trade.
The guest of honour was Mr. F. J. Erroll, President of the Board of Trade. He said the Government would like to do more on building roads, but could not at the present time.
SCOTTISH FIRST
'WHAT was officially designated the first VY commercial vehicle to come off the line at the new B.M.C. factory in Bathgate, was driven by the managing director of B.M.C. (Scotland). Ltd.. Mr. K. H. J. Sinnott, last Friday.
Haulier "Set out to Defraud," Says J.P.
FINES and costs totalling £93 Its. were imposed at Lewes magistrates'
court day on Brendan Paul Caffrey. 30, of Fort Road, Newhaven, Sussex, who pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the conditions of a carrier's licence (14 offences committed at Newhaven between February 21 and March 10); using a goods vehicle for the carriage of goods for hire or reward without a licence to do so (18 offences committed at Newhaven between February 21 and March 20): using a vehicle without an excise licence at Newhaven on July 12 and failing to notify ownership of the vehicle when he became the owner.
He pleaded not guilty to fraudulently altering a registration book., although he said he did so unintentionally.
Registration Book Altered He was fined £2 in respect of each of the 32 summonses relating to the carrier's licence offences: £20 for altering a registration hook: £1 for using an unlicensed car and £1 for failing to notify change of ownership, with £2 6s. costs and five guineas advocate's fees.
The chairman, Brigadier J. A. E. Tillard, told Caffrey he had deliberately set out on a series of frauds, taking work from registered hauliers. He had also deliberately changed his registration book in the hope of getting away with it and for these offences he could have been sent to prison.
Caffrey said he had "just let his hand wander." If he had intended to alter the book he would have altered both the dates in it.