What the Associations are Doing
Page 57
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
S.T.R.'s DINNER LECTURE A GREAT SUCCESS.
A.R.O. South-Eastern Area is trying out the scheme of arranging " gettogether " dinners—informal and inexpensive functions, held about once per month—as means for persuading the rank and file of members to attend meetings and take a personal interest in what the Association is doing. To add to the interest on these occasions, some speaker is usually invited to address those present on some subject of haulier interest.
. Dartford and Gravesend Sub-area held such a " get-together" event on Tuesday, and S.T.R., The Commercial Motor costs expert, was the speaker. The audience was extremely keen.
There were present, besides Mr. H. W. Jiggins, M.I.M.T., chairman of the sub-area, Messrs. D. Richardson, area chairman, 0. S. Moore, vice-chairman, D. L. Dicker, T. A. MacDowall and P. S. Woodhouse, area secretary.
Among many interesting points which arose during the discussion the following •are outstanding:—
Referring to S.T.R.'s suggestion that 12 m.p.g. might be taken as the fuelconsumption rate of a 3-tonner, one haulier asked whether 9 m.p.g. were not a figure more representative of local experience. He found some support for his opinion until another member of the audience suggested that a good deal depended on " how many 3 tons there were in a load on a 3tonner."
An excellent way of using The Commercial Motor Tables of Operating Costs was suggested by Mr. Moore. He said it would be a good idea for hauliers to take the figures in the Tables as a basis of checking their charges. (He himself had so used them for 20 years.) They should take a log sheet for a vehicle, total that vehicle's earnings, and see how they compared with the time and mileage figure in the Tables.
Yorkshire Operators Seeking Support from Traders.
Steps are being taken in Yorkshire with a view to enlisting the support of road-transport users, as distinct from operators, in a protest against restric tions on road transport. Users are being invited by A.R.O. Yorkshire Area to join all classes of operator in a mass Yorkshire protest meeting at Albert Hall, Leeds, next Wednesday (June 9), at 7.30 p.m.
Speakers will include Major Eric Long, political adviser to A.R.O., and Mr. R. W. Sewill, national director.
New Plans for Lincs Association.
In an endeavour to overcome the dissatisfaction expressed recently by 200 North Lincolnshire members, new plans to increase and improve the activities of the Lincolnshire Road Transport Association were put before the adjourned annual meeting at Scunthorpe last week-end.
The 200 members had, as reported last week, threatened to secede from the Association. It was stated that it had been decided to create a new basis of membership, with special provision for local representation. Mr. F. Hunt (Lincoln) was re-elected chairman, Mr. W. G. Pugsley (Burton-Stather) vicechairman, Mr. Jesse Hind (Lincoln) secretary and treasurer, and Mr. G. Smith (Lincoln), clerk.
Kinder Kindles Fire of Unity.
Fighting form was exhibited by Mr. J. L. Kinder, national organizer of the at a meeting at Watford, last Monday. One of the most telling speakers on road transport, Mr. Kinder impressed his audience with the need for full support for the C.M.U.A. policy from every class of operator.
He explained the salient features of the Association's programme, and showed the advantages of forming a local branch of the C.M.U.A. Mr. C. G: Slade, of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., acted as chairman, in the absence of Capt. J. R. Maidens.
Following the meeting a Watford branch was formed.
Lancs-Yorks Rates Stabilization Effort.
Organized employers from a large part of the North-Western Area, also delegates from Yorkshire, met in Manchester on Wednesday to discuss the establishment of machinery for the stabilization of haulage rates, in conjunction with the movement recently made in Yorkshire. At the time of closing for press, details of the decisions are not available.
The meeting was called on the initiative of the Amalgamated Horse and Motor Owners' Association and SouthEast Lanes C.M.U.A.
Bolton Vehicle Parade To-morrow.
A vehicle parade has been arranged by the C.M.U.A. Bolton branch to be held to-morrow Saturday. June 5, and judging will take place on the Market Site, Moor Lane, Bolton, at 1 p.m. It will be followed by a parade. A.R.O. BEET NEGOTIATIONS EXPLAINED.
At a meeting of the Norwich committee of A.R.O. Eastern Area, last Friday, Mr. R. W. Sewill, national director, presented to members a full account of the negotiations which took place last year between A.R.O. and the sugar-beet committee of the National Farmers Union on the one hand, and the Sugar Commission.
He explained that, whilst the scheme adopted for the 1937 campaign was not that proposed by A.R.O., there was no question that, at the time A.R.O. submitted its programme, there was grave danger of the contract for the carriage for the whole of the crop being awarded to the railways, unless an alternative suitable scheme was submitted by roadtransport interests.
Mr. Sewill further explained that the negotiations were in the hands of a properly constituted committee of hauliers representative of every beet factory in the country. This committee carried on negotiations up to the last moment, but, through lack of time, it had to submit a certain figure.
Following this explanation, many questions were asked by the members present, who were all practical beet hauliers. The meeting passed the following resolution:—
" That this committee, after hearing. Mr. Sewill's explanation, supports the policy A.R.O. in its negotiations for the carriage of sugar-beet. It requests headquarters, however, not to conclude any future negotiations without reference to the sub-area concerned.
Sound Programme for Removers' Congress: A new point of view as regards objections to applications for licences by non-members, to enable them to undertake removals, will be raised by Mr. David Maxwell, chairman of the West Scottish Centre, at the annual conference of the 'National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers. The conference will be held at the Hotel Victoria, London, W.C.2, on June 9 and 10.
Mr. Maxwell will speak at the second session on June 9 (commencing at 2 p.m.). His subject will be, "Licensing—Where the centres can help and where they need help."
Mr. Arthur Coombe, chairman of the Association's transport and legislation committee, will present a report on transport co-ordination.
Mr. W. C. Fuller will propose a resolution in favour of the Association's forming an institute for the warehousing and removing industry.
At the third session at 10 a.m. on June 10, Mr. H. Dodd (Liverpool) will review the working of the West Lancashire scheme for the interchange of services, loads and information.
Afterwards, Mr. J. L. Gerson will speak on wages and conditions.
The Association's annual dinner will be held on June 9 at the Hotel Victoria at 0.30 p.m.