R.H.A. Support Competition: Hostile to Ro.S.P.A.
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THE National Council of the Road Haulage Association decided last week to support the principle of a competition for drivers and to take a more prominent part in the management of the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition. They are represented on the new competition committee by Mr. V. I. Pike, chairman of Coventry Sub-area.
[The. first meeting of the new national committee to run the corn petiticin was held last week, and is reported on page 9.1 Members of the National Council of the R.H.A. expressed strong opposition to the attitude of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents on the disqualification of entrants from the Society's safe-driving competition because of a speeding offence. The RI-LA. favoured a competition run on the lines of that being sponsored by the Road Operators' Safety Council.
It is understood that some influential members of the Traders Road Transport Association side strongly with Ro.S.P.A. They take the view that anything which discourages the overdriving of their vehicles is to be commended.
Much of last week's meeting of the National Council of the R.H.A. was occupied by discussion on the reorganization of the Association's finances. The areas retain a proportion of the subscription income for their own use. At present, some prosperous, closely knit areas have surplus funds, whereas others, which are more scattered, have fewer operators in them and bearing heavier expenses, particularly on account of travelling, find difficulty in making ends meet. The problem facing the National Council is one of ensuring that the less prosperous areas become self-supporting.
The present; National Council will 6old their last meeting on May 8—the day of the annual luncheon. The new National Council, for which nominations from the areas will be made during the next few months, will meet first on May 9.
This year a new chairman has to be found. Mr. R. G. Crowther has held the office of vice-chairman for the longest consecutive period, and in that sense is first in the line of succession. Mr. F. F. Fowler has, however, previously been national chairman and could be elected again.
Another possible chairman might be Mr. N. T. O'Reilly, chairman of the finance committee. Ills usual, however. for the chairman to be elected from one of the four vice-chairmen.
Apart from Mr. Crowther and Mr. Fowler, the other two vice-chairmen are Mr. J. B. Mitchell and Mr. R. N. Ingram, but they have held office for less than a year.