R.H.A. TO FIGHT GOVERNMENT
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Strenuous Opposition to New Disposal Policy: 2,500 Extra Lorries Enough ' THE Road Haulage Association have refused to accept the Govern' ment's compromise on disposal. After an emergency meeting of the.National Council on Thursday of last week, the Association issued a statement expressing their unequivocal hostility.
Earlier in the day, a deputation had met the Minister of Transport to give him the Association's plain views on the Government's new policy with regard to the vehicles to be retained by British Road Services. It is understood that members expressed their feelings strongly.
Members of the deputation were Mr. James Barrie, national chairman, Mr. R. G. Crowther, Mr. J. B. Mitchell, Mr. R. N. Ingram and Mr. F. F. Fowler, the four national vice-chairmen, Mr. R. Morton Mitchell, chief executive officer, and Mr. Gordon Smith.
They quoted figures to show that B.R.S. would need between 2,500 and 3,000 vehicles to maintain their present trunk services, and not the 4,500 which the Minister had suggested as being necessary.
Sold Vehicles: Kept Traffic They also mentioned a case in which, after selling certain vehicles, B.R.S. had entered into a contract to carry the traffic which the lorries had previously handled, so that the buyer had to seek entirely different traffic. This, the deputation suggested, was contrary to the spirit of the Transport Act, 1953.
A report of the interview was submitted to the National Council, members of which strongly criticized the Government's proposals. After a fourhour meeting, which was not attended by Mr. John Barber, the principal opponent of the Association's policy on denationalization, the following resolution was passed without dissent: " This National Council, having considered the change of policy outlined by the Minister of Transport in his statement to the House of Commons on July 21, finds itself unable to accept the position envisaged by that policy and resolves to oppose strenuously the Government's decision to leave with British Road Services more vehicles than provided for by the Transport Act, 1953."
Demand for Units
A Press statement said: "The Association is satisfied that the needs of trade and industry can best be served by independent road hauliers, and that the unsatisfied demand for B.R.S. vehicles is such that any curtailment of sales would be totally unjustified."
The Commercial Motor understands that the Association will not campaign against the Minister's policy with the intensity with which they opposed nationalization, but efforts will be made to gain the sympathy of Members of Parliament. There is no hope of A30
persuading them to vote against the Bill which the Minister is to introduce in the autumn to legalize the changes in the B.R.S. fleet, but the R.H.A. believe that M.P.s have not been given the facts.
According to the Associatioth M.P.s have been told that there is no further demand for transport units, that strong competition between B.R.S. and private enterprise is desirable, and that trade and industry want trunk services to be run by B.R.S. in conjunction with the railways.
The RI-LA. propose to contradict these beliefs by pointing out that (a) there is still a large unsatisfied demand for units; (b) strong competition by B.R.S. is contrary to the previous policy of the Government, and (c) trade and industry wish for healthy competition between road and rail, rather than have too close an association between the two sides.
F.B.I. in Favour The Federation of British Industries have informed the Minister of Transport that they acquiesce in the decision that B.R.S. should retain a larger fleet, mainly for trunk services.
In a letter to the Minister, Sir Norman Kipping, director-general, adds: "As competition between road and rail is almost the only safeguard the user now has, we attach great importance to ensuring that it genuinely exists.
"British Road Services must be shown to enjoy competitive freedom. Your reference in the House of Commons to the possibility of some changes in organization as experience may show to be desirable' encourages us to hope that you will be giving close consideration to this point."
Sir Norman continued: " Subject to guarantees of genuine competition between the road and rail services, we do not wish to claim that the retention of the larger fleet should bring in its train any changes in the railway rates provisions in the Transport Act, 1953." [In this matter the F.B.I. are in conflict with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce.] He added the hope that "the retention of this considerable fleet of heavy vehicles in a nationalized service may enable the road haulage industry as a whole to settle down, free from further disruption."
T.U.C. to Seek New Law on Speeding ?
ONE of the motions in the preliminary agenda for the Trades Union Congress at Southport from September 5-9 concerns the position under English law whereby a driver can be convicted of speeding on the evidence of one policeman supported by certification of mechanical recordings in the policeman's car.
This is considered inconsistent with British justice by the Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association, who believe that it was the intention of Section 10(3) of the 1930 Art that a person could be convicted of speeding only on the evidence of two persons.
The motion calls upon the Government to make it clear that if a driver is charged with speeding, he may be convicted only if any mechanical test as to his speed is supported by at least two persons.
A plan for the nationalization of suitable sections of the engineering, chemical and building industries is demanded by the Amalgamated Engineering Union, who hold that compensatory interest on stock paid to former owners has prevented the fulfilment of the objects of nationalization.
The National Union of Railwaymen want a re-examination of the financial structure of the British Transport Commission.
B RS. WANT TO HIRE
A RTICULATED 8-tonners, with or r-k without semi-trailers, and rigid lorries of 2-ton to 6-ton capacity are required for daily or weekly hire by B.R.S. (Parcels), Ltd., Peartree Stree:, Central Street, London, E.C.I. B.R.S. will use the vehicles mainly to carry export traffic to the London docks from the Central Street depot.
R.H.A. " FRUIT " COMMITTEE
A FUNCTIONAL committee has Pl. been set up by the Road Haulage Association to look after the interests of hauliers operating to and from the London fruit and vegetable markets at Covent Garden, Spitalfields, The Borough, Brentford and Stratford.
B.M.A. REPORT ON DRIVERS
LOCAL authorities have been told La that the British Medical Association are shortly to issue a report dealing with medical standards for public-service-vehicle drivers.