RHA is opposed
Page 37
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rOMMENTING on the Geddes report, the Road Haulage Assoeiation stated that although some sensible -criticisms of the present syStern had been made, it was difficult., even from the evidence within the report itself, to understand why they could 'come to the conclusion that licensing should be abolished.
" The first result would be a Consider:Ole increase in the number of commercial vehicles and add to -road congestion ". the statement continued, adding that many traders and manufacturers who had not at present sufficient traffic of their own to justify putting a vehicle on the road would he encouraged to purchase their own vehicles.
After saving that there was bound to he a large influx into the industry of people who had tried unsuccessfully to enter in the past and had been unable to prove need for their services, the Association pointed out that the volume of goods depended on the level of production and trade and not on the number of vehicles available. " More vehicles with no extra traffic to carry must mean an increase in the total cost of road transport ". the statement continued.
" The committee have riot taken sufficient account of the •built-in competition provided by the present unrestricted right Of the custonter to operate his own vehicles under C licence. Nor is there sufficient appreciation in the report of the contrast between the ease with which, under. the committee's proposal. a prospective haulier could set tip in business with very little money and the difficulty he would find in keeping that business solvent. The subsequent trail of bankruptcies might be considered as a method of weeding out the inefficient operators but from the national point of view it would be better to prevent them from entering the road haulage industry in the first place."