Minister Planning National Board?
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THAT the draft regulation framed I by the Minister of Transport, which would compel hauliers to supply intimate details of the operation of their businesses, is a pointec to the possibility of a form of nationalization by way of a national board, was suggested by Mr. J. L. Kinder, national organizer to the C.M.U.A., in a speech at Keighley, on Tuesday. He was speaking at the opening meeting of a C.M.U.A. propaganda campaign in Yorkshire.
Mr. James France, chairman of the North-eastern Division, presided.
After emphasizing that the Association would strenuously oppose the proposed regulation, Mr. Kinder pointed out that Mr. D. L. Clarke, chairman of the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board, had recently stated that one of the Board's biggest difficulties in taking control in Northern Ireland was in obtaining from the average goods operator any information on which could be based compensation for the acquisition of his business.
" Link that up," said Mr. Kinder, " with the intention of our Minister of Transport to seek powers to obtain from goods operators the fullest and most confidential details of their busi nesses. If I read between the lines correctly, here is a possible forerunner of a national board. It is going to be up to the members of the industry to say whether they want a national board, or whether they are desirous of maintaining their freedom of action as private individuals."
The speaker pointed out that not only did the Minister propose to seek power to make public such detailed information from goods operators, but he had threatened that similarly.confidential information, which already had to be furnished by passenger-vehicle operators, should also be made public. This new proposal was also being most strenuously fought by the C.M.U.A.
Mr. France, stressing the need for unity in the industry, said that a 1938 Road Traffic Bill was already being drafted. Unless the industry was so united that it could protect its interests, he added, it would receive another legislative shock.
In view of the failure of the two attempts to bring about a merger of national associations, for the time being the industry must secure unity through the medium of joint boards or committees.