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Rates and Wages Position
D EFERENCE to the Part played by 1 "-The Commercial Motor in forming the organization from which A.R.O. grew, was made by. Mr. A. M. Lyons, K.C., M.P., at the fourth annual dinner of the East Midland Area of the Association at Leicester, last Saturday. Mr. Frank Platts presided over a company of 280 persons.
Alluding to the growth of road transport, despite hostility, Mr. Lyons dedared that the Parliamentary road group would not allow the railways to gain unfair advantages at the expense of its competitor. Stressing the need for unity, he expressed the uelief that the Midlands Area Omnibus and Coach Owners' Association (of which he is vice-president) would eventually merge with a national body. • Mr. R. W. Sewi11, national director of A.R.O., suggested to the Minister of , Transport that, to prevent overloading, the taxation on heavier: vehicles should be reduced and that the speed limit should be increased from 20 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h. : • He described the wages situation as more chaotic than at any stage during the past two years, and instanced the . case of farmers, who are practically immune from control, competing with. professional hauliers, who are expected to pay the agreed wages. Moreover, the large percentage of owner-drivers made the national observance of agreed wages practically impossible. Mr. Sewill maintained that rates could not be improved so long as many operators stood outside the Association.
Mr.. kV, Donaldson Wright said that the memorandum of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce had opened the eyes of traders to the dangers of further interference with road
transport. • .Mr. J. H. Still, East Midland Licensing Authority, who has been connected with road transport for nearly 40 years, congratulated A.R.O. and the C.M.U.A. on the merger, and hoped that other organizations would throw in their lot. Speaking of licensing, he remarked that "a case properly presented is half granted."
There was now little room for eemplaint with regard to passenger transport, but conditions on the goods Side.
were far from satisfactory. Some method of controlling the owner-driver would have to be found while the going was good—for the going would not always be good.
He expressed sympathy with hauliers, in view of the competition from Clicensees, including farmers. Leicester operators had made a creditable attempt to stabilize rates, but the question was seriously affected by railway agreed charges.
Other speakers were Mr. R. W. Birch, Alderman E. Grimsley, deputy Lord Mayor of Leicester, and Mr. W. Lathan).