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3PEAKERS' CORNER

5th April 1963, Page 9
5th April 1963
Page 9
Page 9, 5th April 1963 — 3PEAKERS' CORNER
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

MR. K. C. TURNER, president of the Traders Road Transport ,ssociation, at•the annual meeting of the Association's East Miduid division last week:

"TRANSPORT has become a political football. It is thereore hardly surprising that we should ask 'What will happen a Labour Government is returned at the next election?'

"1 wish I could give you the answer. Unfortunately I canot. The party's official policy statement simply sets out a ase for an 'integrated and publicly-owned transport system '.

o far as the C licence holder is concerned, this could mean nything or nothing.

"I hope that the Labour Party will realise that C licence -eedom is essential to an efficient transport system. Unfortuately, comments made by various spokesmen over recent years o not greatly encourage that hope, and we may well have an phill battle ahead.

"The T.R.T.A. has no political affiliations. It is not iterested in parties, only in policies and, whatever the governlent of the day, we will defend our freedom."

MR. C. ROBINSON, chairman of the Eastern area of the Road aulage Association, at the Association's Redford sub-area annual uner OH Friday:

"IF THE national Rates Committee decides to recommend increase in road haulage charges, I would appeal to every ember to put that recommendation into effect. It is difficult understand the paralysis that seems to grip some of our :embers on these occasions. After all, over the years since the War the largest increase ever recommended has been 10 per cent, and a more normal figure'around half that amount said Mr. Robinson, " These are modest sums when you .reflect how often and by what substantial amounts our own costs have increased.,"

Turning to one item in the new Post Office proposals, Mr. Robinson went on: -Charge's' for inland parcels weighing 15 lb. are to go up from 4s. to 5s. This is anlincrease of no less than 25 per cent and it is on the .Post Office service that is most akin to our own. Can any better indication be. given of the difference between a nationalized momapoly and individual companies operating in competition with each other? Which of us would even attempt to imagine imposing an increase of 25 per cent whether the consignment weighed 15 lb. or 15 tons'?

MR. A. R. BUTT, a vice-chairman of the Road Haulage Association, at the Leicester sub-area annual dinner last week : " ANYONE who has kept a close eye on the Press recently cannot fail to be struck by the many different ways. in which the political journalists suggest the Labour Party should deal with road haulage. Quite recently Mr. Harold Wilson said that State purchase and control of assets would apply only to steel. This can only mean that the Socialists are' giving the matter some fresh thought and it-is time that they should do so."

Mr. Butt went on: "While we are a non political organization we are bound to oppose any party that publishes a declared intention to put us out of business, as the Labour Party has done in the past. If there has been a change of heart, then let them come right out with it, as we certainly would have no intention of relaxing our campaign simplY because individual party members—however high they may be in the party— make varying statement; in week-end speeches":


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