Compensation Cases Likely to Go to Arbitration
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CERTA1N points of principle concerning compensation for hauliers, on which there has been dispute between the British Transport Commission and the Road Haulage Association's professional advisers, will probably have to be referred to arbitration for settlement. Meanwhile, the R.H.A. is urging its mertibers not to accept deductions from compensation which are felt to be unjustified.
The Association's long-distance panel continues to offer its services to ex-members who are forced to resign because their businesses have been acquired by the Road Haulage Executive.
R.H.E. Slow to Pay The R.H.A.'s fifth 'annual report, covering the year to March 31 last, says that although the R.H.E. had accelerated its programme of acquisition, settlement of compensation had not been speeded up to the same extent. "Although many firms have now been operating as part of British Road Services for more than 12 months," the report declared. "there is little sign of any progress towards a settlement of the many contentious points arising from acquisition negotiations."
Among many subjects discussed by the Road Haulage Liaison Conference, the Road Haulage Liaison Committee and the Divisional Liaison Committees are the loss of traffic by independent hauliers to the R.H.E., sub-contracting of traffic, granting of permits, and encroachment by the R.H.E. in the short-distance field.
The Association, basing its conclusions on impressions obtained so far, does not think that the State transport organization will be as effective as the
independent concerns which have now been acquired.
" If the British Transport Commission, through the RILE. and the Railway Executive, are to continue to encroach on the province of freeenterprise hauliers, there will be increasing difficulties for all during the coming year," the report declares.
It confirms that negotiations are pro
ceeding between the R.H.A. and the National Association of Road Transport Groups for a closer link between the two bodies. It is stated that representatives of the N.A.R.T.G. have expressed a desire that their work should be taken over by the R.B.A. The National Council is at present considering a recommendation for the setting-up of a new national functional committee, to encourage the formation of voluntary local groups.
The Tipping Vehicles Committee is dissatisfied with conditions affecting,coal haulage. "The carriage of opencast coal on C-licensed vehicles," it is stated, "is a matter of great concern to group members, but it is hoped that :legal action now pending will shortly. resolve this problem once and for all."
The R.FLA. now has 19,000 members.