Hauliers' Three Main Problems Outlined
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INDICATIONS that British Railways I were indulging in "vicious ratecutting" while relentlessly prosecuting appreciable departures from normal user, were mentioned last week by Mr. R. N. Ingram, national chairman of the Road Haulage Association, when he spoke at the annual dinner of the Association's Yorkshire (Hull) Area.
Mr. Ingram said the industry faced three major problems, the first of which concerned licensing and the decisions of the Transport Tribunal on normal user. There was much apprehension because appreciable normal user departures were considered good grounds for the refusal of a licence. Two recent cases in which the Yorkshire Licensing Authority granted licences had delighted the Association but, in appealing against the decisions, the railways had shown that they were determined relentlessly to prosecute any departures.
Consequently, the R.H.A. had decided to give full moral and financial support to the members concerned. The freedom of the A licence holder had to be preserved, and decisions should not be so inflexible as to damage the structure of the industry.
The second problem, he said, was that since British Railways obtained freedom in the matter of rates, they seemed to be indulging in rate-cutting of the most viciou.s kind. Hauliers who lost traffic would feel great bitterness because their taxes were helping to meet the bountiful subsidies a benevolent Government were providing for rail modernization and to cover deficits.
It was folly from a national point of view to subsidize a powerful, unwieldy and antiquated competitor. If the Conservatives were re-elected, common sense would prevail, the subsidies would. cease and the railways would be streamlined to stand on their own feet.
Thirdly, there was the question of nationalization. The first steps in the advertising campaign to defeat the Socialists had already been 'taken, but the most important part would be that of local advertising and public relations. Members should promote and stimulate discussion among their friends and acquaintances. If this could be made the main election issue the Socialists would be defeated.
INVESTIGATING EXHAUST NOISE
A IDED by grants from the Department
of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Motor Industry Research Association are continuing to work on the problem of exhaust noise, especially from the points of view of the pedestrian and passenger. The British Internal Combustion Engine Research Association are also investigating the exhaust noises of oilers.
This information was given in the House of Commons last week by Mr. Harmar Nicholls, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works.