A Constructive Effort to Bring Unity
Page 25
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Our Outspoken Contributor Takes a Most Favourable View of
the Report of the Road Transport Organization Joint Conference By and Considers That It Reflects Credit Upon its Authors Whilst " Tantalus " Outlining a Sound and Constructive Plan THE eagerly awaited Report of the Road Transport Organization Joint Conference at last has been published. It is a document of 23 pages and contains DO fewer tlia.n 83 clauses. By this time many people will be acquainted with the details—a summary of which appeared in last week's issue of " The Commercial Motor" —and, therefore, it is unnecessary here to deal separately with each paragraph '
After digesting the Report one is left with the conviction that much careful thought has been expended 'upon an onerous task. The field covered is wide, and the proposed provisions would appear to be most comprehensive.
At the outset it is acknowledged That there is need of a greater measure of unity in the road-transport industry and that, from time to time, efforts have been made to improve the position. There are few—if indeed any—
embers of the industry who will not endorse this statement. It is precisely because so long a period has been allowed to elapse before the publishing of a report agreed upon by the seven road-transport organizations concerned that there has been evidence of so much dissatisfaction and hostile criticism.
Has Competition Accelerated the Issue of the Report?
There is no reason whatever why some such achievement should not have been reached soon after the outbreak of war had there existed the necessary will and desire. It may be that the launching of the Hauliers' Mutual Federation has served a most useful purpose in accelerating the completion of the Report. Be that as it may. There can be little doubt that in certain quarters there exists a very real measure of alarm and apprehension concerning this body and its future place in the road-haulage industry. To return to the plan as outlined in the Report It is proposed to create four new organizations, viz..— (1) Road Haulage Association.
(2) Traders' Road Transport Association (3) Passenger'-Vehicle Operators' Association.
(4) National Road Transport Federation.
Members of all existing associations concerned will be transferred to one or other of the first three new organizations. It is obvious—in the event of this proposal being adopted— that the existing national organizations will be wound up. So one may deduce that the AtR.O. will become the nucleus of No. 1; the C.M.U.A. of No. 2 and P.S.V. mernbe'rs No. 3. These, in turn, will provide the constituent bodies to form No. 4. Thus the three sections of the industry will have their separate associations co-ordinated by the Federation. The outstanding feature of this proposal is that each association will be independent and autonomous. Any failure to recognize this vital principle would have proved disastrous. The inclusion of such provision—for the ffrst time ip roadtransport history—will provide the road-haulage contractors with their own organization and, accordingly, should afford them better facilities for self-governmen't. The fear of the other sections of the industry " butting in " on matters exclusive to the haulier will be eliminated.
With regard to area machinery, the Report. states that local matters of common interest will be dealt with by local liaison committees set up in each area. This provision ,—together with the ruling that each area committee will enjoy -autonomy to deal with local affairs—is both clever and prudent.
Space permits the selection of only a few items in the Report to which attention may be directed. No doubt many members of the industry will be interested in the financial arrangements proposed by the committee. The
scheme is that each association shall have " absolute responsibility and complete autonomy in regard to its ,..wn finance, subject to its financial obligations to the Federation." Further, the respective national councils shall determine the entrance fees, annual subscriptions and other payments in respect of that association's members. A percentage—specified by the national council concerned—of subscription income collected. by the area shall be retained and the balance paid to association headquarters. This, in effect, is a continuance of the present 'procedure and practice of the national bodies.
Regarding the financial arrangements between the Federation and the constituent associations, they are under these headings:—
(a) Capital and Reserve.
(b) Administrative Expenditure.
(c) Special Expenditure..
Contributions to cover the first item should be made by constituent bodies in proportion to ordinary subscription income and .be reviewed from time to time as may be necessary As to the second item, expenditure should be bildgeted for annually in advance, and approved before the expenditure is incurred. Full marks must be given for this provision. Concerning item three, this refers to such matters as publicity campaigns, etc., which, again, must be specially authorized in advance.
By and large the whole of the proposed financial arrahgements should be acceptable. They would appear to be equitable in every sense.
In the matter of the functions and powers of the Federation, these include the appointment of eight chief officers, together with the retention of certain advisers such as parliamentary agents, solicitors, consulting engineers and consulting chemists. All premises—both at headquarters and areas—for the Federation and the associations alike shall be owned and rented by the Federation and sub-let to the associations. This arrangement applies similarly in regard to furniture, fittings, equipment, telephone, etc.
One of the most important proposals is contained in clause 78, which reads: " Powers should be taken to create a Benevolent Fund for poor and necessitous members who are or have been engaged in the road-transport industry." Everyone will receive this proposal with acclamation.
With regard to voting and voting powers, proiftsion appears to have been made for the adequate protection of all parties concerned.
Suggestion That a Bulletin Might Well Replace Journal
It would be interesting to know whether it is the intention of the Federation to publish a periodical, as n5 mention of this subject is made in the Report. It may be that—. in its wisdom—the committee has decided to discontinue this association practic recognizing the fact that the Trade and Technical Press is fully equipped to meet all demands in this direction. In association matters of a domestic character the bulletin form of information might be usefully adopted. Approval by the constituent bodies concerned must be obtained before the scheme can be implemented. Copies of the Report will be provided for distribution to every member, and the conference urges that approval of the proposals and the authority necessary to complete arrangements shall be received not later than March 91, 1943.
Summarizing the proposals as a whole, it may be contended that they reflect credit upon the authors, who have succeeded in designing a sound and constructive plan to deal with the reorganization of the road-transpoft industry.