Light-van Users Want Square Deal
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HAULlERS in Brighton are in a favourable position, apparently, as compared with those in other parts of the country, in that insurance rates are low and so are wages. This was so important that S.T.R. (The Commercial Motor costs expert), during the lecture he delivered there last week, found it necessary to make slight modifications to the figures for operating costs which he presented for discussion to his audience.
The net effect of those alterations was, however, so small as to emphasize the fact that the calculation of fiat. rates of haulage, to apply throughout the country, should not be so difficult as is sometimes imagined, the variation as between district and district being almost infinitesimal.
The discussion, in the main, turned on something which, strictly speaking, is outside the scope of the address, namely, as to the taxation grade of vehicles with lift-van bodies. It appeared that a haulier in that area 024 operating such vehicles, who has hitherto paid tax on the lower scale (that is, without including the weight of the lift-van body) and who, moreover, had his vehicles classified within the 30 m.p.h. category, is now, after many years, faced, not only with the prospect of paying taxation on a higher scale, but with having the speed of his vehicles limited to 20 m.p.h.—a serious matter in furniture removal.
The meeting was strongly in favour of some steps being taken to remedy this state of affairs—at the very least to clarify the situation, and preferably to give the owner of vehicles with genuine lift-off bodies the benefit cf the lower scale of taxation and the higher speed limit.
At the close of the meeting the chairman, Mr. A. V. Nicholls, expressed his appreciation of the services rendered by S.T.R. and proposed a vote of thanks. He was supported by Mr. West and Mr. W. Packharn, honorary secretary of the Brighton Sub-area of A.R.O. MAJOR SMITH ELECTED C.M.U.A. PRESIDENT.
The annual general meeting of the C.M.U.A. was held last week. Divisions and areas of the C.M.U.A. throughout the country we're represented, and Mr. C. le M. Gosselin occupied the chair. The report of the National Council Ior the year 1938 and the audited accounts and balance sheet for the year 1938 were adopted. The National Council and the National Sectional Boards for the year 1939-40 were elected as were the auditors.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted:— " The members of the Commercial Motor Users Association desire to place on record their warmest appreciation of the services rendered to the road transport industry in general and to the Association in particular by Mr. C. le M. Gosselin, M.I.A.E., M.Inst.T., during his occupancy of the presidential chair of the Association.
"The part which Mr. Gosselin has taken in guiding the policy of the Association during his year of office has strengthened the prominent position held by the Association for so many years, and has been recognized and appreciated by the whole membership." The following have been elected to fill the respective offices of the C.M.U.A. for the year 1939-40:— President: Major R. A. B. Smith, MC., A .0 .G. I . , M . Inst.T ; vice-president: E. W. Rudd; hon. treasurer: W. A. Winson.
A.R.O. Election in the North. The following is a list of A.R.O. 'a Northern Area officers for 1939-40 :—
Area chairman: Mr. W. W. Walton: area vicechairmen: Mr. T. Gordon and Mr. M. Wilkinson; area committee: Messrs. J. Blaney, A. Todd, B. Harrison, G. D. Craig, R. L..V. Hill, R. Longstaff, A. Gillett, Seer., W. Showier, .1. Colpilts, R. Armstrong and A. Wilkinson.
National representatives 'are as follow:— Haulage Seotional Boards: Mr. A. Todd and Mr. W. W. Walton; Passenger Sectional Boards: Mr. T. Gordon and Mr. W. Showier; Ancillary Sectional Board: Mr. 5. S. Robson and Mr. R.
Ryan. .
Officials of the Area Sectional Boards are as follow:—Cheirman (haulage and ancillary): Mr. W. W. Walton; vice-chairman (haulage and ancillary): Mr. H. Wilkinson and Mr. K. L. V. Hill; Oairman (passenger): Mr. T. Gordon: vice-chalrman (passenger): Mr. W. Showier.
NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RAILWAY PLEA.
Particularly as publication of the T.A.C.'s findings on the railway claims for a " square deal " is imminent, one of the B.R.F. 's latest pamphlets is of great interest. Entitled " Railway Freight Traffic and Road Competition," it adequately answers the railway contention that their loss of freight traffic is largely due to the competition of road transport.
It is shown by undisputable figures that any decrease in rail traffic has not been accompanied by a corresponding increase in road traffic. Also, it is stated that the lowered railway receipts are obviously the result of general trade depression, whilst railway losses are in any case losses on the turnover, and the companies are still making considerable annual profit.
Good Propaganda for Better Roads.
The B.R.F. 's large working model cif a modern road system will be on view at the premises of N. W. Nash and Co., Cardiff, during the week commencing next Monday, May 1. A new feature of the exhibition will be a pictorial diagram which shows in a clear and striking manner " where the motorists' money goes" and "how the money is spent," demonstrating that approximately £66,000,000 per annum, out of the total motor taxation of £88,600,000, is diverted for other purposes, instead of being spent on urgently needed road construction.
It is estimated that 3,500 people visited the road model during the first week of the recent exhibition at Messrs. Atlas Garages, Newport, which must be something like a record for a town of this size.
Better Transport Through Unsettled Conditions?
Members of the Liverpool branch of the Industrial Transport Association, at their annual dinner, last week, made a presentation to Mr. Peet Robinson, in recognition of his services as secretary, an office which he has been obliged to relinquish owing to his transfer to take up a new appointment at Chester. One of the principal speeches of the evening was that by Mr. T. G. Cornish, who remarked that the present unsettled conditions would probably result in the evolution of a transport system better than we had ever had before. What was wanted was the stabilization of rates on an economic level.
Mr. A. L. Bagley, who, presided, remarked that transport seemed to be looked upon as the Cinderella of some firms and as a necessary evil, but it was the final link in the distribution of products to customers, and as such was entitled to greater recognition than so far had been accorded it.
Mr. Bristow on Transport's " Frothings."
" Transport, in any form, exists only for the service of the trader, and this is often lost amongst the servants' controversial clamourings for ' square deals' and technical considerations
which in themselves may be justifiable, but which by their frothings tend to distract attention from the only ultimate criterion, which is ' how will trade and the trade be affected ? Such were the words of Mr. F. G. Bristow (general secretary of the C.M.U.A.), in the course of a speech to Penge Rotary Club, last Tuesday,. on behalf of the B.R.F. He was explaining the principles of the road-rail claims and attempts at agreement.
He said he wished to stress that while the B.R.F. was in sympathy with the claims of the railways on rates, the licensing system was a balancing grievance on the other side of the scale and if there was to be a square deal, the licensing procedure should be altered to allow road transport freedom to continue in fair competition with the railway companies when their rates-restrictions are altered. MAJOR CRAWFURD AGAIN A.R.O. PRESIDENT.
The A.R.O. held the meetings of its National Sectional Boards and National Council, last week. Mr. G. Smart was elected chairman of the National Hauliers' Sectional Board for the ensuing year; Mr. T. Gordon was reelected chairman of the National Passenger Sectional Board; and Lt. Comdr. J. Havers was re-elected chairman of the Ancillary Users' Sectional Board, At the meeting of the National Council, Major H. E. Crawford was re-elected president of the A.R.O. and Lt. Comdr. Havers was elected chairman of the Association. Captain J. W. Jones was elected deputy chairman of the Association and Messrs. Smart, Gordon and Masheder were elected vice-chairmen.