The Fifth National Road Transport Conference
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Details of the Programme and Visits at Birmingham and an Appreciation by Mr. Leslie Burgin, Minister of Transport
AT the moment of writing, owing to the critical international situation, there may be a little doubt as to whether the Fifth National Road Transport Conference, arranged to be held at Birmingham from Monday to Wednesday next week, will take place, but we are proceeding on the assumption that plans will not be altered, The Conference is under the auspices of the Commercial Motor Users Association, and readers will find elsewhere in this issue two interesting articles by the President and General Secretary of 'that body, the latter being also honorary secretary of the Conference.
Further to promote the interest of our readers and to assist those who are attending the Conference, we inclule articles dealing with visits which we have just paid to the Morris-Corn mercial and 13rockhouse organizations, both of which are kindly entertaining delegates to luncheon and arranging tours of their works.
It is interesting to note that Mr. Leslie Burgin, Minister of Transport, has sent an encouraging message to the delegates, expressing his best wishes for another successful meeting, and pointing out how the pooling of knowledge gained. in this manner cannot fail to be of great value to the national interest.
He is glad to see that one of the subjects to be discussed is the establishment of a rates structure for the road-haulage industry, as, apart from the regulation of wages, in respect of which active steps are being taken now that the Road Haulage Wages Act is Cr, the Statute Book, a proper rates structure is probably the most important factor required to produce a healthy and stable state of affairs in the industry. The evolution of such a structure, suited to its peculiar requirements, is an extremely complex problem, and the discussion on this question should be of the greatest service to the committee responsible for preparing the . proposals of the industry.
Mr. Burgin also attaches great importance to personal contact, as being especially valuable in promoting that spirit of order and co-operation in the industry which is so essential to its successful development.
We have referred in past issues to the full programme, and it will be sufficient to say that the opening is at the Grand Hotel at 10.15 a.m. on October S. Following the civic welcome there will be a general discussion on resolutions affecting the road-transport industry. The first paper, on operating costs, by Mr. W. A. Winson, M.Inst.T., will be given at 10 a.m. on October 4, and the other paper, on the establishment of an economic rates structure, by Mr, L. W. Gupwell, M.Inst.T,, at IO a.m. on October 5.
Mr. James Paterson, M.A., M.Inst.T. (President of the National Conference of Express Carriers), will open the discussion on the first paper, and Mr. J. S. Nicholl, M.Inst.T. (member of the Transport Advisory Council), that on the second.