What the Associations Are Doing
Page 24
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S.T.R. ADDRESSES MANCHESTER UNDERTAKERS.
Some really astonishing examples of rate-cutting were quoted in the course of 'the discussion which followed S.T.R. 's address to the members of the Lanc,ashire and Cheshire Funeral Carriage Proprietors Association, at Manchester, last Friday. The Meeting was called because one of the members of that Association, having heard S.T.R., considered that a talk by him would be helpful.
S.T.R. demonstrated that, the bare operating cost of a hearse averaged £1 16s. per funeral, and, of a coach, £1 13s. 4d. There were no criticisms of these figures, yet it was admitted that many were only obtaining £1 8s. and £1 respectively for these vehicles. It was made abundantly clear that, in most cases, the funeral department was being subsidized by the hire-car and taxicab branches, it being usual to run these three lines together. One of those present admitted that half the profits made on his hire-cars and taxicabs went to redeem the losses on funerals.
The railway companies are keen competitors for long-distance funerals, and have recently reduced their rates from ls. 6d. to Is. per mile. Another Member of the audience said he found that he only just cleared his operating costs when he received £3 10s. for a hearse and one coach, a figure closely approximating to S.T.R.'s.
Resolution Deploring Present Restrictions.
At a recent. meeting of the Windsor and Eton Chamber of Trade, addressed by the secretary of the B.R.F., a resolutien deploring the present restrictions imposed upon road transport was passed and sent to the National Chamber of Trade and the local Members of Parliament. Further, the Chamber called upon the Government to fulfil its promises under the Five-Year Plan with regard to road improvement.
A.R.O. in Peterborough.
"A few well-placed bombs could easily cripple a railway system, but a ,network of roads was not so easily put out of action." So said Mr. Charles Greenwood, speaking at the second annual dinner of the Peterborough Sub-area of A.R.O., last week. Commenting on the arrival in Peterborough of the "Constance H," a seagoing motor vessel of 150 tons, he said he hoped that local contractors would not be adversely affected by the development of river transport.
The Mayor of Peterborough, Councillor R. C. Howard, said in reply that there need be no fear of unfair competition to deprive them of that legitimate haulage to which they were entitled. Indeed, he said, the development of Peterborough as a port brought possibilities of increased road traffic,
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and, hauliers would naturally share in the resulting increase in trade.
Mr. H. J. Lloyd, chairman of the Eastern Area, A.R.O., in a spirited attack on the 1933 Act, said that hauliers were supporting a vast bureaucracy' of lawyers, accountants and clerical workers, who ate into 'their profits. • Dr. S. J. Peters, M.P., said he had helped to pass the 1933 Act, and he was prepared to stand by it. He was very perturbed, however, by the excessive powers being given by Parliament to. statutory Boards.
A Mayoral Tribute. , Among the guests at the annual dinner of the Crewe Sub-area of the held last week, was Mr. W. Foden, of Fodens, Ltd. During the evening the Mayor of Crewe, Alderman Lawson, J.P., paid tribute to road transport for its utility to industry.
Route Marking in Colours.
The Minister of Transport is at present considering a plan drawn up by Lt.-Col. R. P. A. Helps and submitted by the British Road Federation, for the marking in colour of through routes in London and other big cities, The plan is to select a number of main through routes in London and other cities and to paint. broad bands of distinguishing colours on every suitable post, electric light standard and power standard. NEW C.M.U.A. OFFICIALS IN LANCASHIRE.
At the Northwich Sub-area (C.M.U.A.) annual meeting, held last week, the new Manchester Area secretary, Mr. W. Farnorth, was introduced to the members. Mr. J. Richardson was elected chairman, with Mr. Slicker as honorary secretary. Committee members for the forthcoming year are Messrs. Powell, Kitchen, .
Jennings, Fellows, E. Sant, Stafford Harris, and W. Barrow. An open meeting of operators is being arranged for February 16.
Blackburn Corporation Haulage Blackburn Corporation proposes to introduce a Bill empowering it to use vans and other vehicles for the purpose of collecting, conveying and delivering parcels and goods from and to premises within and without the borough.
The A.R.O., the National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers, and the National Road Transport Employers Federation have lodged a petition against this clause under the 11gis of the British Roar! Federation.
The petition points out that there Is already in the borough sufficient road haulage of the kind required, runby private enterprise on a competitive basis, ensuring reasonable charges and a service which is in every way efficient.