A.R.O. Membership and Finances
Page 20
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LAST Monday Mr. Reginald Hindley, honorary treasurer, A.R.O., presented his seventh successive report. He pointed out that th'e reserve funds at March 31 totalled £29,692, an increase of over £4,000 on the year.
In the same time the Association lost 443 members, Of these, 127 terminated business, 270 were overdue with subscriptions, and 15 joined the Forces, 31 names were deleted for sundry reasons, but against this 1,130 new members were obtained, making a net increase of 687, as compared with an increase of 254 in the previous corresponding period.
In December last the National Council approved the setting aside, each year, of a sum not exceeding 5 per cent, of the Association's total .income to a staff pension and benevolent fund, and foe this purpose a sum representing two years, i.e., £3,338, has been so held. Speaking of the war-time control of road transport, Mr. Hindley said that many blunders will creep in, many hardships will be found in the Minister's Scheme, but it is up to the Association to eliminate those factors which militate against efficiency, so that the vast machine will deliver the goods promptly until the cessation of hostilities.
With regard to rates for hired longdistance vehicles, those appointed to negotiate did' all that was humanly possible to obtain fair terms and, at the conclusion, had to decide whether to reject the proposals, which might have caused financial hardship to those whose vehicles were put off the road without any financial assistance, or agree to the final terms acceptable to the Treasury.
There is, unfortunately, a complete failure adequately to recognize the importance of road tranSport as a national asset, which will be required to work at full efficiency when the war is over.
What, in effect, has been done by the Minister's Scheme is to provide the minimum financial support to the indtstry within reason, support calculated to maintain it only during the war period while the Government is using it.
" What will happen to many smaller 'undertakings. after control is ended? " asked Mr. Hindley. The remuneration now being paid is insufficient to accumulate any reserve, and might make the industry easy prey for some national scheme of control. No account is taken of goodwill or development expenditure. At the end of control, in certain cases, there may be nothing left but buildings and tired vehicles. If new vehicles can be obtained the prices may bee inflated, whilst capital may have to be negotiated under vastly different and probably more difficult conditions.