Future of M.T.O.L. in Meat Trade Certain : Livestock in Balance
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LARGE-SCALE organization in meat transport is to continue when meat rationing ends on July 3. The Meat Transport Organisation, Ltd., has, The Commercial Motor was informed this week, already received written promises to support United Carriers, Ltd., the proposed successors to M.T.O.L., from nearly 300 contracting meat hauliers.
This number is sufficient to justify the continuance of co-operative working among meat hauliers, who are understood already to have agreed to subscribe more than half the capital of £150,000 which is required to promote United Carriers, Ltd. The position regarding livestock carriers is not so certain, but may become clearer today. To make a success of the livestock haulage branch of United Carriers, the support of 80 per cent. of the operators would be necessary. At the beginning of this week about 30 per cent. of them were stated to have signified in writing their willingness to participate.
Over 2,200 Operators Circulated
Thirteen meetings with hauliers in various parts of the country were held by the board of M.T.O.L. and were concluded at the end of April. During the first fortnight of May, forms asking 1,500 livestock hauliers and 700-800 contracting meat operators whether they would subscribe to United Carriers were sent out by M.T.O.L.
By Monday of this week well over 400 livestock carriers and nearly 300 contracting meat hauliers had returned their forms, expressing agreement with the proposal. The remainder were• expected to be received this week. Another 500 affirmative replies from livestock operators were needed to guarantee the future of the livestock branch of M.T.O.L.
The livestock functional group of the Road Haulage Association met representatives of M.T.O.L. last week and the urgency of a decision was urged. The group met among themselves yesterday and the meat contracting hauliers who form part of the meat carriers' group of the R.H.A. are holding a meeting today.
Final Decision Expected
These discussions are likely to produce a final decision on whether to participate in United Carriers, whose title has already been registered. The cleavage of opinion among livestock carriers is particularly strong.
Widely varied views were expressed by members of the new national council of the R.H.A. at their first meeting last week, but no firm decision whether to recommend operators to join United Carriers was reached. Some members were greatly in favour of doing so.
The question arose from a resolution, passed by the previous national council, reaffirming the Association's faith in private enterprise and their opposition to anything savouring of monopoly. The board of M_T.O.L, have strenuously denied that they hold a . monopoly.