A Year's Work of the SJ.C.
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Leading Points from an Extensive Review Presented Before the Standing Joint Committee by the Chairman, Mr. J. H. Turner, 0.B.E., M.Inst.T.
THE annual report fof 1942-43 of the S.J.C., presented at a meeting of the Committee on July 6 by the chairman, Mr. J. H. Turner, 0.B.E., IVI.Inst.T., is an extensive document, for which we can spare space only for excerpts. It is pointed out that the S.J.C., whilst not cOnstituting the final form for the appropriate organization of the industry, is bridging a gap until the industry's affairs can be settled on a sound basis, and important steps have been taken towards this end.
The report on Long Term Policy, dated July 6, 1942, was approved in principle, first by the Executive Committee, then the full S.J.C., and, finally, the constituent organizations. Up to this stage, the matter had, so far as joint deliberations were concerned, been considered by representatives of only public road carriers, but, to widen the scope, a Road Transport Organization Joint Conference, comprising representatives of all sections of the S.J.C., was convened, with Lord Perry as chairman, when a further report was widely circulated. Sufficient progress has been made for setting up a shadow council for each of the members of the proposed three associations—public carriers, ancillary users and p.s.v. operators. .
A sub-committee to deal with the affairs -of the proposed Federation has been constituted.
At the time of the chairman's previous report, the Minis. try's first Road Haulage Scheme was beginning to operate with a comparatively small number of chartered vehicles. The Hauliers' National Traffic Pool was also functioning, and vehicles were being enrolled in the Defence Lines. Such is the rapidity with which events move that the first Scheme has been abandoned and a second Scheme is in operation.
The first was designed to meet a position where the demand for transport facilities exceeded the supply. Comparatively early in 1942, the position had been reversed, facilities exceeded the demand, and the change in the rubber position served further torestrict the use which could be made of road transport. • The Second.Road Haulage Scheme was announced to the S.J.C. -by the Minister on November 2, 1942. It is a matter for profound regret that it was formulated without any prior consultation with the industry. A number of recommendations has been made by the S.J.C., but no opinion has been expressed by it as to whether the Scheme represents the best way of achieving the objects in view.
Panels to Consider Haulage Scheme To deal with the various aspects of the Scheme, fnur " panels" have been set up, these being for finance, operations, publicity, and controlled undertakings. The first has dealt with the onerous task of the financial arrangements. Agreement was reached in respect of the rates for hired vehicles, but difficulty was experienced with regard to the following points arising from the arrangements with controlled undertakings:—(a) The adoption of E.P.T. principles would have facilitated the calculation of remuneration, whereas the Ministry formula involves extensive accountancy with duplication of effort; (b) the limitation of remuneration to fixed assets and the continuing annual reduction of payment because of the reducing value of assets resulting from the ageing of the vehicles may well undermine the financial stability of many undertakings.
The Operations Panel has dealt with operational procedure and cognate subjects. The Publicity Panel has maintained contact with Members of Parliament and, through the Press, has kept the industry posted as regards the Scheme. As and when the-need arises a panel will be set up to deal with matters of common interest to owners of hired vehicles.
Several times the S.J.C. has sought aesarances from the M.O.W.T. _regarding the position of licence holders at the termination of hostilities, as in view of the increasing use of railways for certain movements it was felt that war-time necessity might create peace-time precedents. As the result of a further approach, the Ministry has given an assurance that post-war applications for licences will be dealt with according to the prevailing circumstances, and not then be governed by diversions of traffic arising out of shortages of rubber and fuel which may no longer exist.
Reference is made to the fact that Conditions of Carriage have not received from the industry the attention which they deserve. The Ministry has issued its own set, whilst the Road and Rail Central Conference has drafted another for adoption jointly by road and rail so soon as such a course becomes possible. The Insurance and Liability Sub-committee of the S.J.C. has compared the various sets of conditions with a view to advising the industry generally as to those which should be adopted. A preliminary draft is being prepared and is being considered by legal advisers. In the meantime consideration has been given to the precarious position of operators who have no settled conditions. They would be afforded a substantial measure of protection if:—(a) their status were by notice established as that of private and not common carrier, thus reducing liability to that arising from the negligence of the carriers or their servants; (b) protection similar to that provided in the Carriers' Act were secured _in regard to the goods of high value specified in Section 1 of this.
Achievements and Notable Activities As a result of representations, the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry tolls for livestock vehicles, other vehicles and steam lorries were reduced by 50 per cent. in June, 1942.
The members of the Employers' Panel of the Central Wages Board constitute the Labour Committee of the S.J.C. They have dealt with many matters, such as subsistence when away from home, priority of demobilization, labour problems in connection with the Government Haulage Scheme, a definition of carrying capacity, regrading, etc.
The Propaganda Committee has been considering the urgent need for the industry's Viewpoint to be adequately represented in Parliament, and for the part which road transport plays in the national life to be made known to the public.
Post-war planning has received the attention of another Committee, the intention being to formulate a policy and prepare post-war plans to ascertain the effect on road transport of plans under consideration by the Government and others; also' the influence of post-war legislation; competition of and relation with other forms of transport, including The carriage of goods by air; road planning, constrtiction and maintenance; and representation which should be made regarding loading facilities and access to factories, . docks, warehouses, etc.
Negotiations on sugar beet are proceeding. Other rate questions concern Lancashire cotton, _and hiring for civil defence and the Home Guard.
The problems of vehicle-production programmes for 1943 and 1944 have resulted in close contact with the M.O.W.T., and the Committee concerned is pressing for the maximum production of certain types of the greatest use to hauliers. It has, however, been pointed out to the Ministry that the maintenance of sufficient spares to keep vehicles on the road is even more important than the production of new vehicles.
The chairman, referring to Mr. Herbert Morrison's dental-las for public ownership and management of transport, quoted the Prime-Minister, -who said: "We must beware of trying to build a Society in which nobody counts for anything except a politician or an official; a Society where enterprise gains no reward _and thrift no. privileges. I say trying to build.' because of all races in the, world our people would be the last to be governed by a bureaucracy. Freedom is their life blood."