Offers to Buy 'Fifth of R.H.E. Fleet
Page 30
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Results of R.H.A. Inquiry : National Council Considers Transport Bill
ABOUT 2,000 hauliers and ex-hauliers have replied to the Road
Haulage Association's question, "Are you willing to buy vehicles from the Road Haulage Executive?" Seventy-six per cent. have answered in the affirmative and 23 per cent. have declined to purchase. The remainder are uncertain. Some 17,000 people have still to reply. Collectively, offers have so far been made to buy about one-fifth of the R.H.E.'s fleet. The average number of vehicles required per potential purchaser is 51..
Sixty-two per cent. of those who are interested in buying R.H.E. assets have sufficient funds of their own will require loans. Thirty per cent, and the remainder are uncertain.
The biggest number of acceptances_ has come from operators in London and south-east England and the largest number of refusals from Lancashire. Lancashire operators have also been most numerous• in replying to the questionnaire.
Hauliers and ex-hauliers in London and the south-east have so far offered to take up 21 per cent, of the total number of vehicles which operators have signified their willingness to buy. West Midland operators are interested in 13 per cent, of them.
Over 50 Resolutions
Detailed figures compiled from answers to the questionnaire were submitted at a special meeting of the national council of the R.H.A. on Wed
nesday. The meeting was called to consider over 50 resolutions from the areas on the Transport Bill.
It is understood that the proposed levy was widely condemned and that the Government's plan to delay the removal of the 25-mile limit was criticized. In some cases it was suggested that if the existence of the 25mile radius were to be prolonged, the British Transport Commission should adopt a more liberal policy in granting permits.
Some of the areas still pressed for a degree of preference for ex-hauliers and existing hauliers in bidding for transport units. The resolutions showed a wide divergence of opinion on certain matters. The Bill's proposals on licensing evoked little comment.
London Hauliers Meet An open meeting of hauliers to discuss the Bill was held, last week, by the Metropolitan and South Eastern Area of the Association. The Press was not admitted and no statement was issued afterwards. It is understood, however, that no new points were raised and that the discussion turned mainly on the delay in lifting the 25-mile limit, on the levy and on the relaxation of licensing.
A warning that hauliers should not be so strongly opposed to some provisions of the Transport Bill as to defeat it entirely was given by Mr. N. F. Ferry, chairman of the East of Scotland Area of the Road Haulage Association, at a meeting in Edinburgh, last week. The meeting took particular objection to the retention of the 25-mile limit until the greater part of British Road Services 6.28
was sold. This and other points of
criticism were forwarded to the Scottish Area committee.
Mr. Ferry considered that the Bill was fair, but personally felt that the question of the retention of the 25-mile limit should be reviewed, He thought that hauliers would be in a better position if their original permits were restored, enabling them at least to resume their former work.
Members, however, pointedout that this course might be unfair to those hauliers who had not tried to obtain the restoration of permits as well as an extension of their operating radius. It was agreed that the Government be asked to specify a date for the termination of the 25-mile limit.
The levy caused apprehension and Mr. Ferry remarked that if it remained linked to railway losses, the more efficient road transport became; the more traffic would be diverted from the railways and the greater the levy would be.
Levy "Reluctantly Approved"
The levy was reluctantly approved at a meeting of the Aberdeen sub-area, last week, but it was agreed that there should be no alteration in licensing procedure. after Mr. L. J. Stokoe, Scottish area secretary, drew attention to the clause in the Bill .which would place the onus of proof upon objectors.
He also pointed out that Licensing Authorities would be instructed to take an applicant's rates into consideration, and said that this might open the way to new entrants cutting charges.
Several members wanted the 25-mile limit to be removed at once, but others contended that its retention was the only way of ensuring a fair deal to those hauliers wishing to buy back their businesses.
On the trade-union side, circulars have been issued, calling on transport workers to sign a petition against denationalization, Crewe Trades Council has protested against the Government's proposals.
TWO MORE SHOWS
DATES of two international Motor L./Shows to be held next year have been announced. The Brussels Show will take place from January 17-28, and the Frankfurt Show from March 19-29.
The Geneva Show, . as already announced, will be held from March 5-15.