Rallying to Unity
Page 16
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THE hauliers in a smaller way of. business throughout the country must seriously consider their position in those many cases in which they are not members of any association. Their strength can be only in unity. Individually, they are practically unable to express their views with any hope of consideration being paid to them, or even of their reaching the ears of authority.
The new Road Haulage Association, which is built up from the late A.R.O. and haulier members of what was the C.M.1.3.A., is launching a big campaign for increased membership. As this body is one of the three autonomous associations which, together, will be represented by the National Road Transport Federation, it will undoubtedly continue to be the most important organization in the haulage field. Even so, its power may be limited and its efforts cramped if it does not include, perhaps not 100 per cent., but at least a very large proportion of the total number of active hauliers.
The R.H.A. and the N.R.T.F. will unquestion-ably be bodies which, in future, will be consulted by the Ministry of War Transport and other authorities in connection with any matters concerning the haulage industry. Some attention may be paid td the views of others covering particular interests, but they, naturally, will not be considered to be so fully representative. Therefore, whether a haulier be a member of some such organization or not, he should certainly join the R.H.A., and should no longer hesitate, for planning is in full swing and hauliers must, therefore, be able to put their case forward in the strongest possible way.
The Association is also going fully into such matters as the employment of the ex-Serviceman and/or his entry into the business on his own account.
In its recent statement of policy, the National Association of Road Transport Groups claims that its activities are complementary to, and not in conflict. in any way with, those of the National Road Transport Federation, and it declares that its policy is to co-ordinate with and assist the N.R.T.F. in such a manner as may be feasible and desirable from time to time. There would, therefore, appear to be no objection on the part of this body to its group members being also members of the R.H.A.
At the same time, by becoming a member of the R.H.A., the individual haulier would be able to assist in forming or adjusting, as the case may be, its policy and would have a say as to who shall be appointed to attend to his interets. He will also get to know far more about the matters under consideration than he possibly could as a nonmember. •