Editorial Away-from-it-all conference
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AS THE Road Haulage Association delegates gather with their wives and families for their annual conference in Malta this weekend, we ask, as we did last year — why should this potentially influential body take itself to foreign climes for what could and should be an image building occasion in Britain? Last year it was Spain, next year Portugal, when doubtless we will still be asking the question.
There are those in Malta this coming week who tell us frankly this is their winter break. Good, they have doubtless earned it. Why then disguise it as a conference?
Why also take up the valuable time of Lynda Chalker as a speaker and, even more important, why take the loquacious and charmingly persuasive Ken Livingstone all that way to hear about his proposed lorry bans?
The RHA has sufficient clout and strong arguments to make all its points back here in Britain. So why head for the George Cross island to do it?
At a time when the industry is embarking on a Elm campaign, through the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to improve its image, we believe that a major British city would have been infinitely more appropriate for this important event. Sheffield would have attracted more national press coverage, than Malta, in road transport terms.
The RHA has been transformed in recent years. It is slimmer, administratively more efficient, and is making its voice heard as never before. What a pity it should, at this time, depart our shores to discuss matters of moment.
Much as we deplore the choice of venue we shall, as always, be there to record this event. This is something we could have done more efficiently and economically at home.