Dinner of London Cartage Provident Institution T HE annual dinner of
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the London Cartage and Haulage Contractors Provident Institution took place on Tuesday, Mr. J. H. Turner, M.Inst.T., the president, being chairman.
Few functions of this nature can boast of such an assembly of notabilities. The guest of honour was the Minister of Labour, the Rt. Hon. Oliver Stanley, MC. In proposing the toast of "The Institution," Mr. Stanley le'erred to his energetic successor, and said that, following the silence-zone regulations, his speech would be short, there would be no blowing of trumpets —" even our own." In his term of office he had fully realized the value of the road-transport industry—perhaps had done so even before its members. it had passed out of the• stage of "every man for himself." Coherence and stability alone would enable opera
tors to keep their place. Road transport had reached the status of an industry, but, until organized, it was quite impossible to compete on equal terms with well-established rivals. Chaotic conditions and individual operation were severe handicaps to the industry.
He took the greatest interest in the work of the National Joint Conciliation Board. It was his child. • It was having teething troubles, but would be helped by constructive criticism and loyal co-operation. Even the destruction of the Board could never mean a return to the old conditions. The Government would no longer tolerate the miseries of the old system, but he did not believe in politicians who try to teach their industrial grandmothers to suck eggs.
" Mr. J. H. Turner referred to the nice
way in which the Minister had received deputations from the industry; he had helped when possible, and even had a nice way of saying no. As an example of the work of the Institution, Iwo annuitants had received total sums ot 1,000 and 000, respectively.
The toast of" The Guests" was proposed by Mr. G. T. M. Fairclough, and was replied to by Sir Richard Redmayne.
Sir Henry Jackson, M.P., gave the toast of "The Chairman" referring to the great help received from Mr. Turner in connection with the problems of London's traffic. Accidents, he said, were one of their chief concerns. They must hold the balance between motorists and pedestrians.
Mr. Turner paid a glowing tribute to the secretary of the Institution. Mr. R. P. Bailey.