Leeds Discussion on clearing Houses C ONTACT between the Road Haulage
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Association and the National Association of Road Transport Groups, concerning relations between the two bodies, was mentioned at a Leeds meeting on May 18. The subject was raised particularly from the clearing-house point of view,
Mr. J. F. Archbold (Leeds) said that he understood a suggestion had been made from N.A.R.T.G. quarters that that association should become affiliated to the R.H.A., but the latter organization would not entertain this idea.
Mr. Archbold, arguing that as hauliers' groups did not own any vehicles, they were, in fact, clearing houses, contended that if they were to have a place in the R.H.A. organization machinery, that place should be in the.national and area functional groups
for clearing houses. .
Mr. Harold Firth (Huddersfield), the chairman, said he entirely agreed. Mr. R. Storey (Leeds) thought that Mr. Rudman, chairman of the N.A.R.T.G., and his committee, were a long way from being convinced that hauliers' groups were in the same category as clearing houses generally,
Mr. Archbold said that, in an interview which he and one or two other representatives had with Mr. Rudman, he, Mr. Archbold, urged that the N.A.R.T.G. should be linked with the National Conference of Road Transport Clearing Houses, or with the 12.1-1.A. machinery for clearing houses. Mr. Rudman, in reply, contended that hauliers' groups were not clearing houses in the ordinary sense, their purpose being simply to serve their own members, and he affirmed that the N.A.R.T.G. would not be dictated to by the R.H.A. or any other body.
A subject of strong criticism was the R.H.A. subscription rate for clearinghouse Members. It was complained that, whilst haulier members were re
quired. to pay an average subscription increase of about .40 per cent., as compared with their pre-merger subscriptions, clearing-house members were being called upon to pay an increase of about 250 per cent.
Mr. Archbold said that the premerger subscription rate for clearing houses was £7 7s. for a bead office, and £3 3s. per branch, as compared with the present rate of £21 for a, bead office, and 210 10s. per branch. As there was no maximum subscription total, the charges meant a heavy cost to a clearing house which, as in some cases, had 30 branches. .
A request from the R.H.A.'s national functional group that Clearing-house members be required to pay only a similar percentage of subscription increase as in the case of haulier members, had been disapproved by the R.H.A.'s executive committee.
A resolution was adopted expressing the view that the subscription rate for clearing houses was far too high in proportion to the services which the R.H.A. could render to clearing-house members, and in comparison with the subscription rate for hauliers.
In answer to a question ap to the position . regarding the projected national road haulage rates strueture, Mr. Clark said that the matter was still under consideration by the Road and Rail Conference in London.
Mr. McGregor .inquired as to plans for political action on behalf of the road transport industry, in connection with the coming General Election.
Mr. Clark said that the R.H.A. was taking action to set up public relations committees in the West Riding and other areas.
Mr. Firth was elected chairman of the functional group, and its representative on R.H.A.'s West Riding Area Committee. Mr. Storey was elected hon. secretary.