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Freedom Vindicated

24th June 1955, Page 34
24th June 1955
Page 34
Page 34, 24th June 1955 — Freedom Vindicated
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ALTHOUGH the railway strike taught road transport operators no new lessons, it showed politicians that, despite denationalization, the road haulage industry is capable of rising to any emergency. Hauliers worked together with commendable enthusiasm and, in conjunction with British Road Services, kept industrial production at a surprisingly high level.

Much of the credit must go to the drivers, who demonstrated their loyalty to their country in a way that no amount of political sharp-shooting by Socialist Members of Parliament can diminish. They deserved better of their elected representatives than to be used as weapons with which to attack the Government at a critical time.

One of the needs emphasized by the strike is for gazetteers of haulage services to be prepared by the area organizations of the Road Haulage Association. A copy should be in the hands of every trader who is likely to consign goods.

This is only one aspect of co-operation between hauliers for their mutual good. The strike may give a welcome new impetus to voluntary pooling schemes, which, during the past few years, have waned. One of the main criticisms by large industrialists of free-enterprise road haulage concerns the inability of the average operator to command a large number of vehicles at short notice to handle unusual volumes of traffic. B.R.S. are able to do so and for this reason they are popular with many big users. By grouping, freeenterprise hauliers can provide similar service.

Traders have also been reminded of the wartime benefits of pooling their transport resources. Their recent experience in doing so may encourage some of them to combine in setting up joint transport undertakings to meet their special needs and reduce waste of mileage that may be run at present • by their separate transport departments.

During the emergency, hauliers acquired many new customers. Whether they keep them or not will depend on their own efforts. Trade and industry owe a debt of gratitude to road transport and now is the time to consolidate new-won ground.

Whatever happens, the industry must be kept at the highest pitch of efficiency, not only for the sake of those whose livelihood it is, but in the national interest. Without a virile road transport system and an adequate reserve of vehicles, industrial production would have ceased and the shops would have been bare before the rail strike ended. It has been demonstrated beyond doubt that spare transport resources are not the wasteful whim of self-willed users, but are vitally necessary to national security.

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Organisations: Road Haulage Association

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