C.M.U.A. 25th Anniversary Celebrations
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ANOTABLE gathering of guests was present at the twenty-fifthanniversary bantmet Of the Commercial Motor Users Association held on Tuesday, October 15th, at the Savoy Hotel.
Mr. George Monis:), C.13.E., ALIiist.T., the President of the Association, was in the chair. The. occasion was graced by the presence of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G. Several of His Majesty's Ministers, including the Right Hon. Lord Thomson of Cardington, P.C., C.B.13., Secretam of State for Air and President of the Air Council; the. Right Hon. Herbert Morrison, Minister • Of Transport, and the Right Hon. J. R. Clynes, P.C.)
Secretary of State for, Home Affairs, were present, as was also His Eicel-; letcy the Japanese Ambassador andrepresentatives from foreign associations fulfilling the same purpose as the C.AI.U.A.
The function was interesting and enjoyable and was enlivened by songs from two talented artists.
The Prince's Speech.
After the toast of " The King" and • that to Her Majesty and other members of the Royal Family, thefl toast of "The Association "• was proposed by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who, in his speech, dealt with the reduction of road congestion and the promotion of safety. He pointed out that the problem is at present very serious and may become much more so if the commercial-motor users and the private-motor users do not get together in an endeavour to solve it and to prevent a great battle of the roads, He mentioned that the private-motor, user is at times inconsiderate when he meets a lorry driver who has come, perhaps, from Bristol or.Birmingham, and is inclined to "put him over the rani."
You employers," said His Royal Highness, "might impress upon your employees the necessity of giving room to fast vehicles carrying, people who want toAkeep, business appointreents." The Prince recalled the formation Of
the Association 25 yearioago. In those days, he said, the .internal-combustion engine was hr its infancy and was hardly used at all for the transport of goods. At that time there were less than 1,000 commercial meter vehicles, whilst now there are over 400,000. From the earliest , (UST,: he continued, the C.M.U.A.. " gave; the . greatest encouragement to Motor drivers to take an interest in their' motor vehicles by organizing paradeS of the motors and exaininatiotts for the driViTa.
" With all deference to our railway companies," said His Royal Highness, "I would, say that these well-Maintained . fleets Of commercial vehicles enable our manufacturers to transport their goods to the„distributors with the Minimum of handling, and the Small retailer has the ,a.cliantage of having goods delivered right to ,his shop: • Even faster development has 'occurred in motorbus and motor-coach services."
An interesting reply was made by Mr. George Monro„ who took this opportunity for alluding to the excellent work and untiring energy of the secretary of the Association, Mr. F. G. Bristow, F.C.I.S.
Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith, 0.13.E., in a few well-chosen words, proposed the toast of "His Majesty's Ministers" This was responded to by Lord Thomson,' Secretary of State for Air, who referred to the congestion on the roads and said that he felt in the Position of a saviour, as he represented a new development which would do much to overcome the difficulty. "To relieve congestion on the roads," he said, "why not take to the air?"
The response was made by the Bight Hon. Herbert Morrison, Minister of Transport, who humorously remarked that if goods–ffansport was going to take to the air to any great extent, Lord Thomson would fin dy;, himself under the wing of the Minister of Transient He added that he welcomed the existence of such bodies as the C.M.U.A., because, provided they took a broad public view of their work, the -cirganization„ of great industrial interests, as with the Trade Unions,
was not only of advantage to the interests themselves, but to all those engaged in government. Mr. Morrison paid tribute to the work of Mr. E. S. Shrapnel-Smith, who was one of the founders of the Association and its president from 1918 to the beginning of the Present year. He had not only played an important part in its development, but his knowledge and co-operation had been of the greatest valuePto the Ministry of Transport. The Minister pointed out that his policy, as Minister of Transport was co-ordination, always, however, consist ent with public interest Mr. C. le M. Gosselin, president-elect of the Association, gave the toast of "The Guests," which was responded to by the Japanese Ambassador and M. Charles Blum, president, Union des VehicuIes Industriels, Paris.
Luncheon to Foreign Guests.
• On the following day it luncheon was given by the chairman, the Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley, G.B.E., C.13., and the committee of the Royal Automobile Club, to meet the overseas and foreign delegates attending the twenty-fifth anniversary of the C.M.U.A. The opportunity was taken for making a presentation to Mr. E. S. ShrapnelSmith, C.B.B., in appreciation of the great services which he has rendered to the C.M.U.A. and to honour him for his work as a pioneer of mechanical transport by road. The presentation took the form of a book containing an illuminated address and the signature of every member Of the council of the Association, a silver kettle and the highest award that can be given by the Association—its gold medal.
The guests included M. Chas. Blum, president, Union des Vehicules Industriels, Paris ; Herr Adr. Beers, vicepresident and Herr J. L. Rauh, secretary-general, Bond van Bedrijfsautohouders, in Nederland ; M. Paul van Halteren, secretary-general, Developmentde la Traction Electrique aux Accunmlateurs, Bruxelles.
A bronze statuette was presented to the C.M.U.A. bythe Dutch Assoeiation. B35