Continental Challenge
Page 21
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THE sudden surge of interest in possible British membership of the European Economic Community—the "Little Six" at the moment, but perhaps more popularly known here as the Common Market—has tended to obscure the effect such a move could have upon British operators of road goods vehicles. Is it going to' be a profound effect, a slight alteration in the life of hauliers and C-licensees, or is it going to mean no difference at all?
. In an attempt to answer the questions, and to explain to operators some of the implications, The Commercial Motor has commissioned a series of articles on various aspects of the subject. The first two appear in this week's isgue. On page 16 the legal and licensing meaning of the Common Market is explained, then on page 18 there is an expert economic appraisal of the traffics that might be offered to hauliers.
All this may seem rather high-flown, a little far removed from the life of an everyday haulier, but it must be clearly understood that a common transport policy could result for all operators as members of the Common Market. The old order, the present conception of road haulage for British operators, might change.
This is nothing for British operators to be frightened of. On the contrary, The Commercial Motor feels that entry intb the Common Market could well result in a great increase in business for road hauliers. If British industrial production leaps ahead, there is a great chance for road'haulage. Obviously there is at least an equal chance for the railways, but the fact remains that a share of any increased traffic must fall to road operators: the proportion will be entirely determined by the dforts hauliers make to move into this new sphere.