How Will Road Transport Be Represented?
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By " Tantalus "
New Scheme for Government Control of Much Traffic May Have Important Repercussions and Full Representation of the Haulage Industry Becomes of Even Greater Importance to Its Future
REGARDING the future of the road-haulage industry there can be little doubt that the control seheffie of the M. of W.T. will have wide repercussions, the extent of which is at present unknowna It is certain that the industry has entered upon a new phase and one which, assuredly, will not altogether pass away after the war. Haulage contractors will do well, therefore, to plan accordingly. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that, in the post-war scheme, goods vehicles will be granted licences only on authorized routes and at fixed rates, as in the case of public-service vehicles. The new control, obviously, will provide a basis for such development. It is granted that this opinion is mere conjecture, but there are ample grounds to support such a view, even at the cost of being considered somewhat pessimistic.
However tightly the hand of control eventually may be exercised over road haulage—and whatever the finalized • position might be—the system of representation must necessarily be involved in one way or another. To what extent it is difficult to assess at this stage. It may be along the lines of a reorganization of the present set-up, designed to meet the requirements of the New Order ; or it may be that an entirely new system of representation will be introduced. It is evident that the S.J.C. had this in mind when the proposals for the reorganization of the industry were framed some months ago, and regarding which so little has since been heard. Whether there are grounds for hoping that the plan may be brought to a successful issue remains to be seen. No one appears to know and some keen observers are far from optimistic and have not any great faith in the sincerity of purpose of the contracting parties.
On the other hand, it must be conceded that the pro posals embodied the first real attempt to frame a .. constructive and comprehensive policy for the industry. If the proposals be impeded so as not to reach fruition, then those responsible should he named lay the. S.J.C. and a statement be made regarding the position. In this connection it may be asked why the S.J.C. has ignored similar requests for this information? Surely it cannot he regarded as of so confidential a nature as to be helpful to the enemy ! Silence on these matters tends to give rise to suspicion and undermines the confidence of operators who feel that they are merely pawns in the game. The democratic principles upon which representation is supposedly based should confer upon the haulage fraternity the right to information in matters of national importance.
S.J.C. Should Avoid That
Taint of Secrecy
H the S.J.C. is to survive as the live representative body -of haulage contractors—for such are the claims—it must take every possible step to inculcate confidence and good-will. A sure means by which to achieve this result is to keep the general body of operators fully informed at regular intervals of all activities, and to present reports . of progress and the achievement of declared objectives. Such reports for all to read could bepublished through the medium of the trade Press.
. Let us examine the whole question of representation in relation to the present system. This, since the war, has proved weak and slow in attaining success. Is reorganization possible or desirable? In the first place, the pivotal point upon which any successful structure could be ,created would be the establishing of haidage contractors in one national block. The failure to recognize this truth and to give effect to it has been, perhaps, the weakest link in the association representative chain. It should be pointed out that the proposals of the S.J.C. included such . provision. If the representative bodies be unwilling to accept this principle it is a case of " as you were " and any further attempts along ,such lines would be unlikely to succeed, and would, in fact, be almost a waste of time. As a prelude to successful reorganization there must, of necessity, be a change of heart and purpose on the part of those who claim to control the destinies of the hauliers.
There are ther suggestions open to speculation. For example, there is the co-opetative idea, the outstanding example of which is known as the "Luton Scheme," and which has been explained in detail in previous issues of " The Commercial Motor." Such a scheme has much to commend it and easily may be the forerunner of a more comprehensive movement. The most attractive feature is the proved principle of mutual trading and help involv
ing no sacrifice of individuality. Although, at present, but local in character, the scheme has proved an unqualified success. There is no reason whatever why development in a much wider sphere should not be equally effective. In such an event a solution of the problem of representation might well be found.
National Association Under
Government Control?
There still remains the possibility of one national association under Government direction—and with compulsory membership—as foreshadowed in a previous article. Such an innovation for this country would hardly be regarded
with favour or enthusiasm. Nevertheless, it has proved successful in other countries. How could representation best be arranged in any such organization? This might be accOmplished quite easily. In brief, the proposals would provide for the setting up of a committee in each region, as laid down in the scheme of the M. of W.T. Both the large fleet owners and the small operators would have direct representatives. The committee in each case to be under the chairmanship_ of the Regional Transport Commissioner. Provision would be made for a nominated member of each comrhittee to attend meetings or conferences at the Ministry on occasions when matters of national importance -were under review. By such means the Ministry Would obtain from the actual operators in All parts of the country first-hand knowledge and information which would be of valuable assistance in framing policy.
The annual subscription (if such were considered necessary) could be fixed at an economic level and collected at the offices of the Regional Transport Commissioners coincident with the payment of the fees for vehicle licences.
Such an association would raise representation to a high level, eliminating association barriers and politics. In addition, haulage contractors would be assured of a medium through which suggestions as well as grievances could be pesented effectively. Whilst these proposals may be regarded as Utopian they are not out of character with the Ministry's plan of control and may, therefore, become a practical proposition.
[This whole question of representation is knit closely with the industry's future, which may well be dark if its interests are not adequately and strongly guarded. It is true that association barriers and politics, under the . present order, are a stumbling block to harmonious and powerful representation, but out of such a divided state as exists good may be born if more men of integrity can be found who will rise above mere partisanship and direct their energies to the marshalling of all sound and practical forces for the common good. Compulsory membership of an aslociation under Government direction would, we fear, divest the industry of much of its virility by destroying or, at least, subduing the heritage of the individual in a democratic constitution.—En.)