Praise for Good Rates Progress
Page 50
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THAT the Western (Metropolitan) Sub-area of A.R.O. is a virile and active organization was clearly in evidence at the annual supper, which it held at Kew last week, and no better indication of the good work that is being done in the division could be found than in the spirit of bonhomie that prevailed.
It was not surprising, therefore, to learn from Mr. J. F. E. Pye, chairman of the Metropolitan Area, who paid a tribute to the support given to the Subarea, that, . in the past 12 months, 33 new members had joined, representing an increase of over 10 per cent. He expressed unstinted appreciation of the work done by members in the Area, in connection with the problem of a rates structure,. although, personally, he doubted whether the industry was. as yet, ready for it. Dissertating on the question, he said that, by overcoming railway agreed charges and the problem of long-distance operation by C-licensed vehicles, a rates structure would be workable. •
Touching an the subject of wages, he said that, in the near future, the industry had a big responsibility to face, but he was confident that reasonable wages could be paid if experience were used as a basis for fixing them. Mr. Pye acknowledged the good work done by Mr. C, W. Beckett, chairman of the Sub-area, during his four years of office.
Mr. J. C. 0. Lawrence, vice-chairman -of the Area, spoke of the excellent work performed by the headquarteis staff of A.R.O., and paid a debt of gratitude to the technical Press in its efforts to gain support for the associations. He thought that the former -could follow up their good work by pressing for a 30 m.p.h. limit for all goods vehicles and added that operators were in the best position to say what should be done apropos this matter.
Mr. R. W. Sewill, national director of A.R.O., gained the whole-hearted support of his large audience when he attacked the address recently given by Mr. G. B. Lissenden, of Lel'ier Brothers, Ltd., which, he said should never have been published. (It did not appear in The Commercial Motor.) He surveyed several aspects Of the wages question and, concerning representation on the wages board, stated that, of 123 seats allotted to areas, 52 were to A.R.O. It was only due to the association's efforts that the Government can put wages machinery into. effect. He expressed the view that if there was a cleaning up on the part of the railway companies, as there had -been in the road-transport industry, then there would be a better chance of the two interests getting together.
Mr. 13eckett said he was proud of the friendship of members in the area, and he was warm in his praise of the efforts of the committee on rates, and particularly of those of Mr. W. R. Hughes, the Area secretary. He stressed the big part played by road haulage in the life of the nation and was critical of the railways' latest propaganda efforts to minimize the importance of road transport.