Railways Threaten Users' Freedom
Page 29
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THE Railway Executive's form of agreement concerning traders' private sidings prejudices users' free choice of transport. This charge was made by Mr. J. E. Peacock, transport manager of Cargo Fleet Ironworks, Middlesbrough, when he addressed the Yorkshire section of the Institute of Transport.
Mr. Peacock said that when a trader asked for a connection to a. private siding, the Executive made a stipulation that all his traffic must be offered to rail. Furthermore, if the Executive could not handle traffic, it must be given the opportunity of making alternative arrangements for road movement before the traffic was offered to an outside contractor.
The speaker also mentioned the "unconscionable time" taken by the Executive before accepting an abnormal load. He remarked: "You can put the proposition to the road haulier and have a reply within 48 hours." He added later: "The road haulier also has to traverse the distance. He has just as much trouble, and yet I have had no difficulty in respect of transport by road. 1 have had to send girders 85 ft. long by road—which is wrong, in my opinion—in order to get the traffic t h rough."
R.H.E. WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED
I F, as a result of the General Election, hauliers became free to operate outside the 25-mile radius, the Road Haulage Executive would have difficulty in meeting the increased competition, because of the time which must elapse before charges fixed by the Transport Tribunal could be changed, said Mr. C. E. Jordan, chairman of the transport committee of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, on Monday.
A report by the road traffic section of the chamber said that some of the inquiries made by the R.H.E. in investigating claims did not appear to be relevant to the claim under review. The trader was involved in unnecessary clerical work, and it was suggested that instances of this practice should be brought to the notice of the Executive.
The district manager of the R.H.E. has invited traders to inspect depots of British Road Services.
!L was proposed that a party should be formed to visit the depots and obtain information on the methods used by the Executive. RILE. TO APPEAL AGAINST T.A.T. DECISION
THE dispute over compensation payable to Messrs. Elrick and Hutchcon, Aberdeen hauliers, is to he taken to the Scottish Court of Session. The question that has arisen is whether proprietors' remuneration should he included in an estimate of profits.
When the case came before the Transport Arbitration Tribunal, the Road Haulage Executive submitted that in assessing compensation a sum given as £700 should be deducted from the firm's annual net profit. This contention was rejected. The Executive has asked the Tribunal to slate a case.
The firm was nationalized in January. 1949.
A lecture by L. H. J. Hersch on oilfield operations will be given to the Society of Engineers on November 5 ;I! Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W.1, at 5.30 p.m.