S.T.R. Continues His Lancashire Tour Q T.R.'s meeting at Buxton,
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last week-the second of 12 which he is addressing on behalf of the C.M.U.A. Manchester and East Lancashire divisions-was different from any that have gone before. The chairman did not put in an appearance, and none of those present was inclined to take the responsibility, so S.T.R., The Commercial Motor costs expert, agreed to give an informal talk. The result was good.
A round-table conference followed, in the course of which a wide range of matters, all within the ambit of costs and rates, was discussed. Everyone present took part, and an enhanced appreciation of some of the fundamentals of costs and charges was the consequence. Amongst those present were Mr. Fish, of the I.C.I., and Messrs. Longston, Spencer and Needham, all prominent hauliers in the Buxton area. Officialdom, so far as the C.M.U.A. is concerned, was represented by Mr. Harrison, from the Manchester office of that Association.
Buxton, of course, is a centre for the distribution of lime. The stabilized rates for carrying that product, for which S.T.R. was responsible, were commended as being fair and just. it is, however, significant that ways and means have been found to cut these rates, and the result has been to take away the work from many of those formerly engaged in it, because they adhered to the fixed rates. The view was expressed that ady rates structure would have to be most strictly enforced and that it was in any case impracticable unless means were devised to prevent cutting by the railways.
At Northwich, on the Wednesday evening, Mr. W. Faniorth was in the chair. The familiar query about the allocation of hire-purchase interest cropped up once again, and S.T.R. explained that whatever amount had to be debited on this account was a business cost and could not fairly be charged against the vehicle, although this was sometimes done in ignorance.
Mr. Farnorth, in winding up the informal debate, said that he had listened to various lectures by S.T.R. and he had never been able to challenge any of the figures. It was apparent that this expressed the unanimous Opinion.
At Wigan, the fourth and last meeting of the first week of the Lancashire series, Mr. W. Patton, chairman of the South-East Lancashire division of the C.M.U.A., was in the chair and was supported by Mr. J. S. Howarth, secretary of the same division. The questions at this centre turned on insurance. Haulage contractors. especially those holding A licences, are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain insurance for their vehicles at what might fairly be called reasonable premiums, and S.T.R.'s own figure of £30 for a vehicle carrying 4-ton to 5-ton loads was stated to be inadequate. A premium of £35 per annum was mentioned and that subject to an excess of at least £20. Mr. Howarth said that in some cases, insurance companies were refusing to handle business in connection with A-licensed hauliers. This is an extraordinary state of affairs and, assuming the statements made to be based on fact, needs further investigation.