300 hauliers lobby MPs on the Bill
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OVER 300 RHA members who marched on Parliament to lobby MPs on Tuesday fell foul of the police when Mr. R. A. Murphy, the Association's campaign manager, attempted to unfurl a banner demanding: "Freedom of choice in transport: keep prices down".
The police told RHA president Mr. Philip Turner that sloganeering banners are forbidden within a mile of Parliament. Delegations from all over the country, accompanied by area secretaries, took part in the demonstration. Most delegates had previously arranged to meet their MPs in the central lobby of the House.
The mass lobby was timed for the opening day's debate on the Transport Bill but at the last minute the debate was postponed until the following day.
Mr. Turner said the lobby was directed at two main points: the Bill's bias in favour of rail; and the taxation proposals, which could only have the effect of increasing costs.
Some hauliers taking part in the protest told CM they would have liked a more militant demonstration of hostility to the Bill. Said one: "A hundred lorries parked in Parliament Square would really have made them sit up."