Four Rules of Conduct T HE Association has four cardinal rules
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by which the conduct of its members towards their customers and amongst themselves is measured.
They provide: (1) That every member of the Association shall embody in all estimates the conditions at that time stipulated as official. (2) That no member shall remove goods from the depository of another member without consent of that other member. • (3) That there shall be no advertisements in the public Press or elsewhere for return loads at reduced prices or• any announcement that a member's vans pass between specified places in the British Isles.
The fourth rule links up with the first. in that it provides that it shall be a condition precedent to obtaining legal assistance from the . Association, that the standard conditions and contract form shall have been used.
Mr. S. P• Harris, a senior vice-president, opened the discussion on these rules and in doing so dealt with P. ales 1 and 4 simultaneously..
He pointed out that members, in handling the goods of customers, were bailees, and ;I" they did not cover them A.34 selves by a suitable and well-drawn contract embodying conditions of carriage. etc., they rendered themselves liable to claims for heavy damages. The standard conditions recommended by the Association were drawn up so as to afford adequate protection. They were the result of the accumulated experience over many years of many members and were correspondingly valuable.
It was only to be expected, he continued, that the Association should be reluctant to afford legal aid if, on a preliminary investigation of the case, it was apparent that the member had omitted to apply the standard contract and conditions. The Association protected itself by the rule and it was possible that in some circumstances legal aid would have to be refused.
The discussion of these two rules was particularly brief and turned more on the detailed wording, some modification of which was suggested.
As Was to be expected, the second rule, dealing with the removal of goods from the depository of another member, evoked-considerable discussion. It was obviously regarded as important.