Representation 'on Democratic Lines
Page 12
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WE can have nothing but praise for the Report on theOrganization of the Roadtransport Industry, issued to constituent bodies by the Road Transport Organization Joint Conference, of which Lord Perry, K.B.E:, LL.D., is the chairman... It is alme■st . a monumental achievement, and if there be any criticism of the report as such; it is that it goes too closely into details -which Concern more the work which will have to be carried out later than the principles involved, thus enlarging ,the bulk to such an extent that even our precis in this issue occupies over two pages.
• Lord Perry, when introducing it to us last Monday; strongly emphasized the need for unity of representation, and deprecated any efforts to add what he termed an eighth voice to the seven jointly ‘' comprising the Conference, which isclaimed to represent 25,000 operators. He referred in strong terms to the Government's method' of collecting sectional information for its own interests. The S. J.C. wished to recognizelhe historic process for which our forefathers have bled and died—to have our own representatives locally, working up to a national basis, so that rspresentation can be carried clown to the individual, instead of control being by the voice of a sectional bureaucracy. So-called rationalization meant cutting cut the small man and pitting in the big.
AID
The new Federation was open to all—there was .nobody who could not come in, the one stipulation being that every full member must own a vehicle for .road transport, whether this'be mechanically propelled or horse drawn. It. is obvious from the report that there has been a great amount of give and take amongst all concerned, due to a sincere desire to come to a common conclusion.
The reference to clearinehouses in-, the report -seems somewhat drastic, but it is open to the Conference concerned to put forward its views, Possibly, all its road-transport activities could be joined 'with the Federation and other matters kept outside.. • , • • So far as the representation of p.S.v. operators is concerned, Many of these are already members of one orother of theconstituent organizations, and there will undoubtedly be liaison between the Federation and the two other bodies representing these interests. , We are much in favour Of the general policy embodied in the report—which, incidentally, will be in the hands of all concerned by to-day, whilst others interested can obtain it, at 5d.(including postage) on application, to Mr.. G. W.. Quick Smith, Coastal Charfibers, -15, -Elizabeth Street, London, S.W.1—for we have, during Many years, ‘stroriglY emphasized the need fOr some central . . . .
Co-ordinating body to present a united front.