A.R.O. Members Hostile to Government Haulage Scheme
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Adjourned a.g.m. unanimously resolves that the scheme should be abandoned with a return to the status quo, and that hauliers of all Associations should be represented at the proposed official examination of the
THE, adjourned a.g.m. Of Associated Road Operators, held at Caxton Hall on Wednesday of last week, was an outstanding success in that its object was achieved. That object was to allow for full discussion of the Government Road Haulage Scheme. Two resolutions were passed unanimously. One of them condemned. the scheme, asking for it to be abandoned and for a return to the status quo. The other, proposed after the disclosure that the scheme was actually being examined with a view to its amendment, was in effect a constructive suggestion' that hauliers in all Associations should be represented at the investigation.
The little storm which arose during the meeting was concerned with a side issue, a matter of purely domestic interest. It is a thousand pities that the daily Press, in reporting the meeting, should have given it such prominence in their report, thus giving to the public an entirely false impression that there were many who did not agree and endorse the main proposal's before the meeting. There was none who did so.
Mr. T. Lawrenson, Chairman of the Association, presided over an assembly numbering some 250 hauliers, representing the industry from all parts of the country, from as far ,ntorth as Northumberland and as far south and west as Devon and Cornwall and from all the areas in between. He *as supported on the platform by the President, Major H. E. Crawfurd, A.F.C.; the National Director, Mr. Roger W. Sewill, M.A.; the Association's solicitor, Mr. Norman Letts; Messrs. A. W. 'Darby, L. L. Baker and J. A. M. Bright. Mr. F. R. Lyon, B.A., was in attendance.
Terms of the Resolution Mr. E. B. Howes, of the Northern Sub-Area, Metropolitan Area, proposed the following resolution:— " It is the considered opinion of this meeting that the Government Road Haulage Scheme is not operating in the interests of the Nation.
" It has proved itself uneconomic, and in view of the need of the very strictest conservation of man-power, rubber and fuel, should be abolished. 'The scheme in its, present form leads to duplication between the Regional Transport Commissioners and the Road Haulage Branch of the Ministry, mainly due to the lack of co-operation.
" The policy of the Government Scheme leads to unsuitable vehicles being operated, thereby causing wastage of rubber and fuel.
"The war effort is the only thought of this industry, and this meeting requests that a return shall be made to "he status quo without delay."
Mr. C. R. Thompson seconded the resolution, and in doing so gave examples of inefficient working of the Government Scheme, showing that unsuitable vehicles were being sent for particular traffics so that they had to be returned and others substituted; that the M. of W. T. was encouraging rate cutting; that it was diverting traffics long held by haulage contractors into different channels, and thus depriving them of the goodwill of their businesses. Finally, . he asked if the Minister could inform the road-haulage industry as to the cost of the service, the number of people employed upon it, the amount of paper used, the cost of establishments generally, rent, rates, taxes and so on, all of which ' was unnecessary because it duplicated what was already in existence within the industry itself.
A prolonged discussion ensued, in the course Of which it was emphasized that in the view of hauliers the Minister had not kept his part of the bargain. It was pointed out that hauliers were told in the beginning that these chartered vehicles were intended to be available for use in emergency to deal with large blocks of Government traffic needing to be moved urgently, and that if this intention had been carried into effect no trouble whatever would have arisen.
• Mr. J. W. Calvert, of the Eastern Area, then pointed out that this adjourned meeting had asked that those attending should be given information as to the Government policy in respect of this scheme, so that they. could express their opinions upon it.
In response to this Mr. Sewill read some correspondence which had passed , between A.R.O. and the Minister. This correspondence showed that headquarters, A.R.O,, had already advised the Minister in detail of the reaction of the industry to the scheme, pressing for reform more or less on the lines indicated in the resolution, and that the Minister had replied confirming that, for reasons of state, it was desirable that the scheme should continue in its present form, at the same time agreeing to give consideration to any constructive suggestions which should be put forward. At this point, the Press was excluded, from the meeting while information of a confidential nature was divulged. It seems clear that this information wai, in effect, that to which reference was made in a leading article in last week's .isstre of " The
Commercial Motor *ben we intimated that Sir Frederick Heaton had been appointed to investigate the working 'of the Government scheme and to . make recommendations accordingly.
Public Investigation Sought The original resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously, but following further discussion arising out of the special information disclosed, a second resolution was proposed and carried without dissent; to the effect that this adjourned of Associated Road Operators urgently requests that an ftvestigation which may take place into the working of the Ministry of War Transport's Road Haulage Scheme shall take place in public, or at least that all members of the road-haulage industry shall have the opportunity of making all such reasonable representations as they may think fit.,