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A Powerful Plea for Unity and Freedom
Page 86
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The President of the Commercial Motor Users' Association Puts Forward Vital Arguments for Unity and Co-operation Amongst Operators W. A.
Wi nson
WE are in days of change, crisis, transition and challenge. A speaker the other day said, quite rightly, that (apart from major legislation) road transport is daily confronted with a bewildering variety of new regulations —regulations produced so rapidly and so frequently that it is most difficult to realize whether they are in " draft " form or made operative.
In the immediate background, looming more clearly every month, is " the shape of things to come" by way of new legislation. What shape will that legislation take?—that is the vital question. Will it give greater freedom to the railways, or will it place still further burdens on the shoulders of the road-transport industry? Are there serious pointers that new legislation is going to be again adverse to our great industry? s
-1.. The road-transport industry only is singled
out for this invidious " proof of need "; meantime, the other arms of transport, with their overlapping and duplication, proceed untouched.
2. Not only cannot the newcomer get in, but the established operator can. expand only with the greatest difficulty and at considerable expense.
3. The burden of proof in the traffic courts lies on the applicant, instead of on the objector.
4. A public-service-vehicle licence and a B licence are each valid for only one year; even an A lic6rice has a tenure of only two years—far less than even the life of the vehicle—and extension, although sought earnestly, is still far from certain. I could dilate on this and other forms of unfair and unnecessary restrictions far beyond the scope of this article. I nevertheless earnestly believe that, given quickly a really united front on the part of all operators of whatever type, and the active support of all whose livelihood or well-being is bound up with the prosperity of our industry, then road transport can get a fair deal.
What is the C.M.U.A. Objective?
It is Our objective to build up a road-transport arm on such lines as -can permit the fullest economic development of the industry in the well-being of the community. Road transport has a great and increasing part to play in the life of the nation and we want only such freedom as is necessary to achieve it.
The industry has already tabled for the advice and counsel of the Transport Advisory Council proposals to this end not only helpful and constructive, but also statesmanlike. We are asking for what I may call a short-term programme. We first indicate steps which should be taken now to produce what is desired by the Minister—a stabilized road-transport industry. Then, with an eye necessarily on the future, we indicate practical measures which thereafter, and only thereafter, can be taken to produce harmonious relationships with the other arms of transport for the national well-being.
But what must the industry do in the meantime? My colleague, Mr. Fowler, puts it succinctly when he says " organize the unorganized" to make our proposals cer
tain of fruition. The associations discharge their rec32
sponsibility extraordinarily well in servicing the membership in many directions at modest fees, but the individual operator has an equally important responsibility towards the associations and the industry.
To the shame of our great industry be it said that many trading and manufacturing interests, through chambers of commerce and chambers of trade, are displaying a beneficent interest in road transport developments to a greater extent than the operators themselves.
Essential Requirements in the Industry.
Let me elaborate Mr. Fowler's excellent advice and vigorous lead referred to in the first editorial of The Commercial Motor for last week. We want an industry in which every operator displays
(A) RESPONSIBILITY . —Every operator should he politically responsible; not a cipher, not a pawn, but an active participant, playing his part in the national and local affairs of the industry. The Parliamentary Road Group waits to serve him nationally, yet all too little is it called upon or even given the material to use. As an industry we are politically backward.
(13) KNOW LEDGE . —A sense of. political responsibility at best is worth only half its true value, unless it be combined with knowledge; knowledge of the past, knowledge of the best ideas of the best men past and present in the industry. Associations exist to impart that knowledge, through journals, mass meetings, sub-area activities, personal contact, correspondence, etc.
(C) UNITY.—An industry having knowledge and responsibility would quickly establish unity. It needs the actual unity of all operators and the potential unity to be gained by harnessing the support of those who, whilst not operators, are actively concerned in establishing the just claims of road transport for its proper economic place in the nation's facilities.
These fundamental factors—responsibility, knowledge and unity—must be displayed quickly. Now ; if only we have time. There is the crux—we have not long to develop them.
The associations are fighting for our livelihood, and therefore also for the well-being of those dependent upon us. Is it too much to hope, indeed to expect, of every operator that he should learn as much as he can, and think as much as he can, about the very important industry in which he is engaged? If that industry is to deserve our pride, there must be an end to all mental apathy, and to all indifference towards the issues we face. Otherwise we shall deserve all that may come.