N.A.R.T.G. Discusses its Policy T WO meetings of the National Association
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of Road Transport Groups were held last Friday, the first being a genetal meeting of members, at which it was decided to add three members to the Executive, these being Messrs. E. E. Howes, S. Meredith and A. L. Hughes.
The later meeting was an open one for hauliers interested in the groupin,; meeting, and for them the secretary, Mr. J. L. Watchurst, gave a clear exposition of the aims and objects of the N.A.R.T.G. He said that we were living in the middle of a revolution, a fundamental change was going on. This was nothing new to the British, The system of complete individualism had failed in many ways. We are in the process of finding a means for replacing this by something that is neither State control nor individualism. We must retain the equal right ofevery citizen to control matters through his vote. Our leaders must serve the people, and democracy must rest on the freedom of °Onion and speech. It does not mean freedom for everyone to , do just as he or she likes. The people themselves agree to the laws and to keep them. It rests on justice and fair play.
Ile asked how this could he applied to road transport. Fie believed that the N.A.R.T.G. came nearer to the ideals of democracy than any other
body. It was sometimes accused of being Fascist; yet nothing was farther from the truth. The power rests on the equal voting of all the groups, and members devised and controlled the policy. Evet,y officer and member of the Executive must retire each year for re-election, and a-report of every meeting of the Executive is sent to each group for criticism and review.
Mr. Watchurst claimed that the 'freedons of the Press was a fundamental means for ventilation and criticism. and he congratulated the Trade Press of the industry on its excellence.
Provision was made for the factor of consultation between groups and traders to discover and agree fair rates for haulage and conditions of carriage.
The objects made not for monopoly and combines, but for the preservation of the independent haulier. They were -to secure such efficiency and economy on his behalf as to place him on the same favourable basis as the big Man.
It would be necessary to reduce light running—a source of great loss and inefficiency—and balance vehicles and surplus traffic.
In respect of buying, the Assodiation does not advocate different rates, but if suppliers insist_ on these the small haulier is just as much entirled to them
by linking withe his fellows. On the whole, hwever, quantity, and fleet discounts are probably unsatisfactory.
In respect of repair and maintenance facilities, where a maintenance Concern can give adequate facilities at reasonable prices, there. Was nothing to be said against it, but " adequate meant the quickest and best; a six weeks' delay was no good. The Association had no Wish to put the trader out of business, but he must not criticize if he did not provide what was wanted.
The Association hat already been able to save 33i per cent, on some high-charge figures.
There was no dictation by the Executive, but there must be some orderly form of restraint, and those who did not follow the rules were first interviewed and invited to put forward their reasons.
The work of the'executive bodies fell into two categories—political and practical (operational). The R.H.A. dealt with the former; the groups with the latter.
• Further information was given by the chairman, Mr. Rudman. Both he and the secretary answered many questions, and we were impressed by the clarity of the replies made.