What the Associations are Doing
Page 50
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
PAT ON BACK FOR STANDING JOINT COMMITTEE.
Monday last saw the annual general meeting of the National Road Transport Employers Federation in London. In his report, Mr W. Edwards, president, says that the Federation's relations with other associations continue to be of the friendliest, and he stresses that there has, in fact, been an unustial degree of co-operation between the various bodies. In this connection he makes particular reference to the Standing Joint Committee, says that it meets a real need and that it is to be hoped that it will be " a stepping Stone to a complete rationalization of the organization of the road-transport industry."
Papers at National Road Transport Conference.
The following papers will be read at the Sixth National Road Transport Conference, to be held at Scarborough under the auspices of the Commercial Motor Users' Association.
September 18: 10.15 a.m., " Alternative Fuels and Their Use," by Major E. G. E. Beaumont, O.B.E. (Past President, I.A.E., and Consulting Engineer, C.M.U.A.); September 19: 10 a.m., "The Control of Road Transport in Time of War," by Mr. C. A. Birtchnell (Assistant Secretary, Roads Department, Ministry of Transport); September 20: 10 a.m., "The Road as an Agency in Transport," by Professor R. S. H. Clements, M.C. (Maybnry Professor of Highway Engineering, University of London, and Chairman, Roads and Traffic Committee, R.A.C.).
The Honorary Conference Secretary is Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.B.E., 50, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1.
"Ear Burners" for the M.o.T.!
As the result of addresses given by B.R.F. men, a startlingly comprehensive resolution was recently passed by the Llanelly Women's Local Government Society.
The Society urged the Government to consider the following recommendations:— (1) That the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Lords on the Prevention of Road Accidents be adopted without further delay, special attention being paid to the passage which reads: "Nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of a vastly accelerated programme of road construction and improvement."
(2) That a comprehensive plan of new-road construction, on the lines of the County Surveyors Society's Scheme of Motorways, should be approved by the Government and that the necessary land should be acquired astO and the work put in hand as a matter of urgent national necessity.
The Society was also of the opinion that as 100,000 persons had been killed and between :3,000,000 and 4,000,000 injured on the roads of this country during the past 20 years, no monetary excuse should be offered as the reason for not tackling this serious national problem with more foresight and energy.
An identical resolution was passed by Llanelly Soroptimist Club, on this occasion. It would certainly seem that the B.R.F. has done its work well in this particular area! However sweeping the resolution may be, nevertheless its every word is justified.
This success in inspiring such resolutions is becoming quite a habit with the Federation, for Tonbridge Chamber of Trade passed one at about the same time, also calling for the adoption of the House of Lords' Select Committee's Report.
Copies of each resolution have been sent to the Ministry of Transport.
Mr. Irwin on a " Square Deal " Committee.
Mr. G. W. Irwin, of Cambridge, well-known as an A.R.O. personality, has been appointed honorary secretary for the hauliers' side of the Eastern Regional Committee under the Central Conference.
Tavistock Has A.R.O. Sub-area.
A sub-area for Tavistock and district has now been firmly established by A.R.O., the secretary being Mr. R. W. Fennamore, of Plymouth. An early meeting will elect other officers. STRONG WORDS ON "DAMAGING DRAFT PROPOSALS."
Hardship, on the industry, of the draft proposals of the Central Wages Board, was stressed at a largely attended meeting of hauliers held at Plymouth recently under the auspices of the Plymouth and District Sub-area of A.R.O.
It was realized that immediate action was necessary, and the following resolution was unanimously passed: " Plymouth and district road operators instruct their representative on the Road
Haulage Central Wages Board that the terms and conditions of the draft proposals of the Central Wages Board are not acceptable to them, but they are willing to operate their existing agreement and conditions (which were agreed by employees) of the Devon and Cornwall Joint Conciliation Board agreement, dated July 11, 1935. It is considered that the proposals of the Central Wages Board are harsh and damaging to the haulage industry, and an endeavour still further to burden that industry with legislation and conditions of such a nature that employers would be faced with a hopeless task of functioning, when employees and employers must suffer alike. It is urged that all areas and sub-areas will support this effort to throw out these damaging draft proposals."
Torquay and district haulage operators are aggrieved at their inclusion in Grade 2, more especially in view of the fact that Exeter has been placed in Grade 3.