Waste Which Is Not Penalized
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"Tantalus 11
AN endeavour was made in my article " Place Principles Before Platitudes," published on July 17, to emphasize that the depression prevailing in the road-transport ,industry is no mere accident due to circumstances and conditions beyond control. It is rather the result of a policy deliberately planned to such an end.
Inquiries produce conclusive evidence that the position of hauliers is becoming so serious that many are—in fact— threatened with extinction. This, in itself, is sufficiently alarming; but more disastrous still is the national aspect. For if established concerns—which have served industry and commerce faithfully and well for years past—be driven 'off the roads', then one of the most vital war services will be woefully weakened at a time when it should be at the peak of . its strength. The Position has been viewed from various angles, and every effort is made to treat -the subject fairly from all aspects. Due consideration is -given to the many difficulties attendant upon war-time transport operations, but notwithstanding all this still there would appear to be direct evidence that road-transport is being penalized. If it were not" so there would be neither reason nor justification for the policy of restriction which obtains. Any such policy might mere easily be understood if roadtransport were a luxury, service enjoyed by a favoured minority and, consequently, subject to war limitations; instead of which it is a service of necessity and vital to the Nation as a whole.
From time to time there come to hand items of information which provide yet further evidence of restrictions on road-transport which must affect the ordinary mair in the street. Quite recently, there was, for example, the scandal. of the alleged -waste of vegetables---and of peas in particular —which went rotten and had, perforce, to be. destroyed owing to delay in transit by rail. Despite this, it is reported that the carriage of peas and potatoes is restricted to a 35-mile radius by road. The outcome of this is that in some districts food is being left to rot the fields, and this at a time when every effort is being made to increase supplies of -home-grown produce.
Food Being Wasted While Red Tape Binds Idle Lorries
Then there is the allegation that food is being wasted because road-transport is not being used to the full extent. There are instances where consignments of cases containing food products, when collected at railhead, have been found to be so badly damaged as to be unusable. Already fruit growers in the eastern counties have warned the Ministry of Food that unless the ban on road-transport be lifted some proportion of this year's record plum crop must, of necessity, be' wasted. There is something singularly inconsistent in the ordering of affairs where a person guilty of wasting bread, string, paper, or even rags, is liable to a heavy fine, and yet food is left to rot or is otherwise wasted .because the consignments thereof are " ordered " to be transported by rail—and that in instances where roadtransport would prevent the wastage. As the matter stands there is no penalty because there is no individual responsi'Nifty—a strange paradox indeed! Food, in fact, is being wasted whilst lorries are lying idle.
If only responsible Government officials were charged with
the responsibility of making decisions band had to stand or fall by such decisions—ultimately the results might be that of the square peg fitting in the square hole. The octopus of bureaucracy, however, has spread its tentacles so widely from Whitehall to the smallest operator and humblest workshop, that, any such possibility is very remote. Of the many victims suffering from this bureaucracy road transport is one of those 'most hardly hit. Indeed, it would seem almost that advantage is-being taken of war-time conditions to continue the pre-war policy of road-transport restrictions.
Frantic Calls on Road Transport Replaced by Comparative Neglect
In recalling memories of the fervent appeals, prior to the declaration of war, made to operators for vehicles for Civil Defence services and the Fighting Forces, one is bound to admit that the response was magnificent. These same operators worked for weeks and even months without receiving any payment whatsoevbr, and when, at long length, their accounts were settled it was after prolonged and tedibus discussions and arguments. Tribute should be paid also to the splendid heroism of the drivers, who consistently delivered the goods whilst continually running the gauntlet of many blitzes,' and who regarded this merely as part of the day's work. Such dependable service played its part in helping to keep running the wheels of production by the prompt deliveries of essential materials in good order and condition. During that period road-transport was raised' to a pinnacle of importance which was generally acknowledged and appreciated. What a marked change has taken place since those days! Then a seemingly endless chain of road vehicles carried essential sinews of war, whilst to-day there is evident depression and vehicles are idle or 'partially so. Whatever May be the cause—and whether or not in some degree it is due to the fact that freedom from intensive air raids has, permitted the railways to function to capacity—the fact remains that road-transport • is not being employed to the full. That being so the national effort inevitably rinist suffer, and this state of affairs, surely, should be remedied.
Moreover, the Government is indebted to haulage contractors for services already rendered during the war, for the important part they have played in maintaining the lifeline of -the Nation. Certainly it seems a scanty return that operators who .have contributed so splendidly to the war effort should now experience a period of depression during which their vehicles are laid up.
There is, of course, the possibility that the Ministry of 'War Transport—from its experience gained by controlling the actual operation of vehicles--bas arrived at the conelusion that there is a surplus of vehicles to requirements, and that may be the reason for the present depreSsion. In t,liat event it might have been better had the industry been informed. Such a course would have served to remove much apprehension and uneasiness. It is the fact that operators are unaware of the real reason why their services are not required during what might quite well be the peak year of the war, which neglect is so disconcerting to them. With out exception all persons seek security and the haulage contractor amongst others. What he desires most of all is the assurance that he will be given a square deal.