Uncertain Foothold IT seems that Sir Brian Robertson, chairman of
Page 30
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
the British Transport Commission, is trying to keep a foot in every camp. In opening his speech at the annual dinner of the Institute of Transport, last Friday, he emphasized that he was chairman of a "Transport Commission, and not a railway commission."
Some of the guests were, therefore, a trifle surprised to hear -him say, a little later, that " as regards freight at least. a considerable amount of „traffic is going by road today which ought to go by rail." This was embellished by a comment on lorries cluttering up the roads.
In case, despite his opening protestation, he should be thought to be partisan, he pointed out that, "in certain respects," British Road Services had developed a form of service that commerce and industry had appreciated. To prove his breadth of outlook on transport he even applauded 'the idea of putting the small man back into the business."
Nevertheless, he created the impression that his sympathy for the practice of bringing back the small haulier was not as strong as for the sentiment. That is hardly surprising, because although the Commission will retain 3,500 goods vehicles and may preserve a strong holding in road passenger transport, they remain a predominantly railway organization.
Sir Brian's sympathies must lie mainly with the railways, which is probably why, in his speech, he was willing to concede the user no more than " some " freedom of choice in the type of transport service he should use.