History at lunch
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I recall another luncheon organised by the editor of CM which had profound effects on the road haulage industry. It was held at the now-defunct Pagani's Restaurant in Great Portland Street, London, on April 29, 1930. The host was G. MacKenzie Junner, who was editor from 1 9291959, and the guests were some dozen prominent hauliers. The aim was to try to create some order out of a national shambles.
The upshot was the formation of the Long Distance Committee of Enquiry to submit evidence to the Royal Commission on Transport that was sitting at that time under the chairmanship of Sir Arthur Griffiths-Boscawen. From that committee the Long Distance Road Haulage Association evolved in 1931. Its first chairman was E. C. Marston, a famous Liverpool heavy haulier, who, I seem to recall, bought the first 100-ton trailer in Britain.
Soon afterwards the LDRHA amalgamated with the late Frank F. Fowler's Short Distance Hauliers" Alliance to form the first Road Haulage Association. Later it became Associated Road Operators but resumed its earlier title, with a new constitution, in 1945.
So the part of honest broker is by no means new to editors of CM. They are also not adverse to a good lunch.