Some Admissions of Vital Importance
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Our Contributor Emphasizes Certain Points Contained in the Address Given by Sir Cyril Hui comb to Members of the Institute of Transport
By "Tantalus"
THE recent address given by Sir Cyril Hurcotnb, K.C.B., K.B.E., Director-General of the Ministry of War Transport, at a meeting of the Institute of Transport, was interesting from many points of view ; particularly so because of the eminence of the speaker and the important position which he occupies. Therefore, the subject matter, should be considered thoughtfully and due weight should be attached to the views expressed in the speech. In covering the pm-war years Sir Cyril gave a comprehensive review 'of the development of road transport and the measures taken by Parliament to achieve an orderly control of the industry.
To many of the persons who heard the address this, doubtless, provided enlightening information ; but to thOse actually engaged in the industry, it must have presented an old and well-known picture, retouched,
perhaps, but still the same picture of memories. It was that part of the address which referred to the period of the war and the future which provided much food for thought by operators of rod vehicles, whether A, B, or C licensees.
Dealing with the different types of vehicle in the various classes, the speaker gave the number of licences and vehicles respectively, as in 'the year 1938, but the corresponding figures for the subsequent years were, disappointingly, withheld. At this stage of the war when, by no stretch of imagination, can it be of use to the enemy, the omission of such information is incomprehensible. It can only be assumed that for some obscure, official reason members. of the industry are to be denied this knowledge.
Is not the introduction of pre-war procedure a matter which should be taken up by the N.R.T.F.? It is important that in framing a post-war policy for road transport the vehicle strength of the different classes of licence should be known and understood.
Will Long Journeys Be Restricted?
In the course of the. address references to A and B licensees were wrapped up mainly in remarks concerning post-war operation ; but in the matter of the C class the speaker commented in marked terms. Reading between the lines, it would appear that some curtailment of the operation of long-distance journeys may be considered necessary. The clue is contained in the following statement made by Sir Cyril, and which appeared in the issue of " The Commercial Motor " dated April 6, but is worthy of repetition: "it is not known, however, what proportion of C-licensed vehicles belongs to large concerns, the activities of which extend beyond ordinary retail distribution over moderate distances. It is probably small, yet enough to constitute an important factor in any scheme of co-ordinated transport, for these vehicles may abstract traffic which, if retained, would contribute to the overheads of the public carrier by road, rail or water, and, if lost, might unbalance their loads. The ancillary operator, moreover, expects to fall back, when he likes, upon the public system of transport." At a later stage in the speech Sir Cyril said: " C licences and vehicles have increased more than any other class. This tendency is significant and must be taken into account in forming any estimate of the future prospects of all public hauliers of goods." These are
sufficient signs and portents for the C licensee, and foreshadow an impending conflict of no mean character between the interested sections of the .industry. Further comment is withheld until the actual proposals of the Government are made known.
. The interest of hauliers in the address is likely to be centred chiefly around the reference to rates, in which an important admission was made. This was to the effect that even under the R.H.O. it has been found impracticable to apply any general \scale of charges for commercial traffic. Also, it was stated that careful thought had been given to the possibility of assimilating the charges to railway exceptional charges, but the proposal proved not to be capable of application and it was necessary to continue the commercial rates and charging practice in force at the time of control.
General Rate Fixing Impracticable Such a statement is of undoubted significance having regard to the status of the Road and Rail Conference and its attempt to correlate charges. If it has been found impossible to effect any result under a system of strict control, with all the conditions and circumstances favourable, what prospect of success can be envisaged in normal times? It may be possible to reach agreement regarding certain traffics ; but to attempt to tie road and rail rates in general terms of a rates structure is neither practicable nor possible. When the Conference was first launched and its objectives understood, there was considerable feeling to the effect that these objectives never would be attained. The industry, in fact, was too divided to make achievement possible. The admission of Sir Cyril Hurcomla confirms this forecast.
Road haulage should be permitted to rely upon the service which it renders to the community, and an acknowledgment of this fundamental would be of real value. The leaders should concentrate all their efforts upon fortifying the position of the industry irrespective of other forms of transport.
As to the future of road transport, the speaker recalled that before the war the course was set by the Transport Advisory Council. This body made certain recommendations following an examination of the railways "square-deal "proposals. Now that the N.R.T.F. has got to work it is hoped that it will not be deemed necessary for the Government to seek the views of the numerous committees that were set up before the war • in connection with roadtransport. Practically all discussions and negotiations should be conducted through the one co-ordinated national body—the N.R.T.F.
During the past decade the phrase "division of function" has often been used and more often discussed, but, perhaps, not so readily understood. Whatever the interpretation may be, Sir Cyril stated in his address that it cannot he claimed that war experience anywhere has revealed a clear functional division in transport. Thus another false track is exposed.
. The address should be studied carefully in order to discern the implied meanings as well as the deductions that are to be made therefrom: Doubtless the N.R.T.F. will be able to use the pointers to advantage during the negotiations which are proceeding with the M.O.W.T. regarding the future of the indust;y.