Vital Year
Page 27
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THE news this week of Mr. A. R. Butt's election as national chairman of the Road Haulage Association is an opportune moment to remind goods vehicle operators—both haulage and C-licensed—that their trade association leaders are going to need members' support this year more than they have needed it in at least the past 15 years, and perhaps much more than they have ever before needed it.
Some time during the autumn there will be a general election, and the Labour Party have their best chance of success since they were swept from office in 1951. They quite obviously intend to restrict all types of road carrier, possibly with considerable severity. They will trade on the current torrent of adverse national publicity which is leaving mud on everyone in the industry.
Whether they want to or not, the trade associations will be forced into the public arena. Their leaders will have to be more eloquent, unyielding and forceful than ever before. Every haulier and C-licensee must be prepared actively to back his association's fight in his own town or city. No chance must he lost to write to local newspapers or to speak in public about road transport's magnificent record of service to the people and industries of this country.
The year 1964 is going to be a vital one for road transport operators. Their right to continue running could well stand or fall on the degree of backing they provide in the coming battles.
If individual operators remain apathetic about the threat to their fleets, they may soon find that the Socialist theorists have left them few vehicles to worry about.