An Ambitious Scheme to
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71HAT there has been for some time 1 a scheme afoot for Associated Road Operators, directly or indirectly, to take in hand the haulage of the beet crop, has been known to me for some considerable while. I have discussed it with hauliers in various parts of the country and I made reference to it in a recent article dealing with future problems in this branch of the haulage industry.
As it was explained to me by various hauliers, I was not enamoured of the scheme.
• Mr. R. W. Sewill, national director of A.R.O., has Put the matter in a new and more favourable light. In the first place, he says that there is no intention to confine the application of the scheme to A.R.O. or any other body.
Separate Company Needed.
He confirms what I suspected—that, in any event, A.R.0, has no power to trade and could not operate this scheme as an association. If it be accepted, it will be conducted by a separate cora-, pany subsidiary to A.R.O. Membership of this company will be open to any haulier, who will, however, be expected to become a shareholder.
" What steps are you going to take, Mr. Sewill," I asked, in an interview, " to ensure that every haulier who has hitherto been engaged in beet haulage shall.be made aware of this scheme and given a fair opportunity of taking part if he so desires?
" If the scheme goes through," he replied, " we shall communicate direct with all the 46,000 farmers who are growing beet. Wd shall ask them to put us into touch with the contractors who have hitherto carried their beet and we shall. then communicate with those hauliers, telling them of this plan and inviting them to participate."
A.R.O. Collaborates With N.F.U.
Broadly, it appears that the scheme is the outcome of collaboration between A.R.O. and the National Farmers' Union. Mr. H. J. Lloyd, of Frintonon-Sea, chairman of ARC. Eastern Area, and himself a beet haulier of considerable experience, was the first to raise the question of beet transport. He has been supported by the Eastern Area committee, which, following its meeting at Cambridge, has worked not only throughout its own area to secure acceptance of the scheme, but has supported Mr. Lloyd at meetings of beet hauliers in other districts„ notably at Grantham and York.
The difficulty concerning beet haulage, so far as the N.F.U. sees it, is that haulage rates are a definite discouragement to farmers whose holdings are a long distance from the factory. Mr. Sewill mentioned in this connection the areas in South Wales, Sussex and Somerset It is not desired that this discouragement should persist and the scheme which A.R.O. put up was intended, in part, to eliminate that difficulty.
Its principal object, however, was one with which I sincerely sympathize, one which I have recommended, year in and year out, in the articles 1 have written about beet haulage. The aim is that the industry 'should be properly organized, that hauliers should collaborate and eliminate the wasteful methods and overlapping which, at present, are mainly _conducive t9 the tremendous loss of time caused by waiting in the factory yards and in queues along the roads leading to the factories.
Fart of the plan is the appointment of a hauliers' representative at each factory, who shall take care of hauliers' interests and shall organize the work so that these delays cease.
" For example," said Mr. Sewill, "we hope to be able to persuade the factoriesto keep open for the acceptance of loads much later in the day than they do at present. It will then be possible for a haulier who has completed loading at, say, 4 p.m. br 5 p.m. to deliver his load'at the factory that day, instead of—as is so often the case at present—waiting until the following day."
Overcoming Congestion.
As that is one of the reasons why hauliers are so keen to reach the factory early in the day, thus causing that congestion which is one of the principal troubles, I must agree that the sugges tion is a sound one.
" Later," said Mr. Sewill, "we may even arrange for the factories to be open for the acceptance of loads until midnight. This will enable double shifts to be worked and economies in trans port to be effected." _ " How did you overcome the difficulty of the almost prohibitive rates for haulage to farms a long distance from the factory? Have you agreed a fiat rate?"
No. A fiat rate was not requested and is not altogether desirable. The
N.F.U. desired, in any event, that farmers situated close to the factories should still retain the advantages accruing from that circumstance. OT311 tender provides for a tonnage rate steadily increasing with the length oi haul up to a maximum of 50 miles..
Meeting Cost of Long Journeys.
" Beyond that distance there is no further increase. The extra cost of those long journeys is spread over the total haulage costs. Thus, it is essential that the whole of the transport of the crop should pass through' the hands of the same organization..
" Our tender was placed in September; its consideration is being held over until the 1938 campaign, because the Sugar Beet Corporation has, by force of circumstances, been compelled quickly to enter into short-term contracts with farmers for the 1937 crop. We have the assurance, however, that it will be given every eensideration and that we shall hear more about it frcim the corporation in ample time for the 1938 season."
" Are you not running a risk," I asked, "that, so soon as this scheme is in operation, there will be a considerable increase in the acreage of beet grown outside the 50-mile limit? Surely farmers outside the area, so soon as they realize that the handicap of heavy haulage charges is removed, will be encouraged to grow more beet, and that will upset the balance of your scheme."
Beet Acreage Proviso.
"That point has had consideration," said Mr. SewilI, " and the contract, if it be completed, will provide that the terms apply only so long as the distribution of acreage under beet is substantially the same as at present, at least in so far as the factor of distance is concerned.
"I should like to add," he continued, "reverting to the point you made about non-members of A.R.O. participating, that non-members were present at the meetings when this scheme was discussed and a good many of them are in agreement with us in the matter."