Pickfords B.F.M.F.A. Dispute : Approach to Minister Next Week?
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THIS week, a special meeting was called by the British Furniture Manufacturers' Federated Associations to decide the terms by which representations are to be made to the Minister of Transport about the charges scale that Pickford's New Furniture Carriage Service imposes to-morrow.
This scale, says the B.F.M.F.A., will cause an increase in retail furniture prices of up to 8 per cent., and would "create a grave commercial and social injustice at a time when no public safeguards exist." The Minister is to be asked to intervene in the dispute and to direct a public inquiry into Pickfords. An approach to the Prime Minister will be considered if necessary.
Pickfords originally intended to implement a new scale on July 1. The B.F.M.F.A. considered this schedule unfair and excessive, and wrote to Lord Hurcomb, chairman of the British Transport Commission, lodging a detailed protest. During negotiations, Pickfords maintained that the proposed charges fairly reflected costs, but, says the B.F.M.F.A., these costs were never revealed. It claims that a directive to do so was given to Pickfords by the Road Haulage Executive, but that this was ignored.
Unable to obtain cost figures from Pickfords, thefl B.F.M.F.A. elicited information about furniture-carriage expenses from hauliers whose businesses had been nationalized and endeavoured to prove that Pickfords's proposed rates were excessive.
In a letter to the B.F.M.F.A. on August 4, the R.H.E. reiterated that the proposed scale was fully justified—and might even have to be increased later— but offered a temporary alleviation. The B.F.M.F.A. was given the choice of having small lots charged at the same rate as medium consignments, or reductions of 10 per cent. on "up to 25-cubic-ft." rates and 3i per cent. on " 26-150-cubic-ft." rates.
This offer was considered to be unsatisfactory, and the B.F.M.F.A. announced its intention last week of seeking Governmental intervention in the matter. An approach to the Minister of Transport may be made next week.