50,000,000 Tons Handled by R.H.O. in 1944 A S many as
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50,000,000 tons of traffic were handled by the R.H.O. last year, stated Mr. W. A. Bridge at -a dinner given last week by the unit controllers of the IOS Area to their brother unit controllers of the 10Q Area and a number of guests, at Knutsford. One of the guests was Major F. S.
. Eastwood, North-Eastern Regional Transport Commissioner. Mr. T. H. Prince presided.
Mr. A. E. Handscombe, in proposing a toast to the M.O.W.T., surveyed its growing importance during the past 25 years and how the attitude to road transport had changed, it now being accepted by the Government and people alike as an integral part of every-day life. The Ministry, was to be congratolated on the succeSs it had achieved in organizing the various modes of transport into workable units. In the days ahead it must realize that good will could achieve miracles, but there must be no discrimination which would hamper the development of road services to meet the country's needs. He hoped that an outstanding leader would arise from the ranks to pilot them through the difficult days of the future.
Major F. S. Eastwood said that the success of D-day operations was largely due to the sell-sacrifice of the lorry drivers under the Control of the unit controllers. In the 12 weeks following 1day, 10,000,000 tons were . transported. One of the reasons that the industry had not achieved its fullest success in the past was the fact that it had been possible to play off one asso ciation against another. Now :he industry could speak with a united voice.
Proposing the toast of LILO., Mr. S. Harris said that a strong and efficient Ministry would be to the advan tage of all. He hoped they would never go back to the days when the haulage man had to sit at the Traffic Courts like a prisoner at the bar. It was regrettable that since the R.H.O. had functioned some goods previously carried by road were now being carried by rail or by water.
Paying tribute to unit controllers as the key men of the organization, Mr. W. A. Bridge quoted the tonnage which had been handled by the R.H.O.
The chairman took the opportunity of saying that the vehicle supply situa tion in this area was desperate. The critical position could not be eased permanently until the claims of road' transport were recognized. It was high time that new vehicles were made available for all road operators.
The final speech was that by Mr. C. J, de Burgh, who said that in 1944 the 10S and 10Q .areas of RI-TO. carried 5,366,834 tons.