Fair Wages Must be Paid—Mr.
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LAST Saturday, Mr. Henderson, Southern Scotland Licensing Authority, 'was the chief speaker and guest of .honour at the annual dinner of the Glasgow and District Horse and
Motor Contractors Association. Mr. William Dalziel, president of the Association, presided over an exceptionally large gathering.
Mr. Dalziel hoped soon to see in Scotland one federation of transport bodies, -There were important Matters at stake. Rates . would have to be raised if the industry were to be placed on a higher footing. He stressed the point that hauliers must also loyally observe the conciliation agreement.
Mr. Henderson said that the sooner carriers realized that the transport industry was under public control, the better for all concerned. He Was disappointed to find the associations accounting for so small a percentage of applicants. Ile had hoped that by this time practically every carrier would have realized the advantages of Membership of some organization. • He had, for the past two years. Made every allowance for the ignorance of the unrepresented carrier. He was surprised that objectors tolerated the way in which he had assisted such people. But the present position could not continue and, if these applicants would not take the ordinary trouble to ascertain the requirements of the law, then, in fairness to existing operators and to the railways, he must withdraw the shelter and support that he had been giving them. He would always give them a fair and judicial hearing, but could not continue to be their advocate.
Mr. Henderson pointed out that one of the main purposes of the Road and Rail Traffic Act was to curb the activities of the rate-cutting carrier. Some years.ago he bad been told by a large concern, with many multiple shops, that it could save 15.per cent. by hiring a fte4.t, instead of using its own transport. •Contracts were for a year, and long before that period had expired,
most of the contractors had pat themselves out of business by the low rates that they had quoted.
The speaker expressed astonishment that many operators were not observing fair wages. The observance of the Fair Wages Clause was important, and, whilst enforcement might be difficult, the Association would be obliged, sooner or later, to object to applications on the ground that the applicants were not paying fair wages.
Three -Governments had made changes in the Act, but they had preserved and strengthened the Fair Wages Clause, which had to be ore served. Otherwise, he might have the additional task of •judging whether or not an applicant should 'be allowed to remain in the trade.