Peaceful Prospects
Page 16
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THERE are signs that when the Transport (Disposal of Road Haulage Property) Bill has been passed a new era of practical co-operation between private-enterprise hauliers and B.R.S. will be opened up. Mr. Harold Watkinson, Minister of Transport, gave the lead at the beginning of the committee stage of the Bill, when he urged both sides to "consult one another on matters of general interest to the industry as a whole—wages, conditions, general terms of service and that sort of thing."
This attitude has been endorsed by Maj.-Gen. G. N. Russell, general manager of B.R.S., who, in a recent address to the Institute of Transport, said that "in the new era of competition the field of common interests will be more extensive than in the era of integration. The political acrimonies of the past few years should be put behind us, so that British Road Services and independent hauliers, whilst competing for the patronage of customers, should seek ways and means of promoting the well-being of the industry as a whole, so that the interests of trade and industry can best be served."
Both these statements have been welcomed by the Road Haulage Association. Mr. James Barrie, national chairman, places squarely on politicians the responsibility for the lack of effective co-operation between the two sides in the past. Freeenterprise hauliers and B.R.S., he said recently, had much in common. The industry would be stronger in any representations that it felt bound to make to the Government if it were united -in its efforts.
Those utterances at national level support what in fact is already happening in the day-to-day operations of road haulage. Friendly and helpful relations exist between many hauliers and officials of B.R.S. Indeed, a B.R.S. district manager was recently the " hero " of the evening at an R.H.A. dinner, and the members cordially received the tribute to him paid by a solicitor who, earlier in • the day, had grilled him for over three hours in a traffic court.
These are good omens for the future peace of the industry which the passing of the Disposal Bill should translate into accomplished fact. If the good personal relations and co-operation existing in the ranks are carried up to national level, the industry should reach that state of unity on matters of principle which will ensure freedom from political interference.