R.H.A. Talks with Minister Begin
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Deputation Urges Early Decision on Date of Repeal of 25-mile Limit
BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
MEGOTIATIONS on the future of road transport have opened between " the Minister of Transport and the Road Haulage Association. In response to the invitation issued on behalf of the Minister by Mr. J. Gurney Braithwaite, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, at the Association's annual luncheon, last month, representatives of the R.H.A. met the Minister, Mr. A. T. Lennox-Boyd, and Mr. Braithwaite, last week. Other meetings are to be held soon.
The Association is keeping close counsel on its opinion of the White Paper, but there is reason to believe that it regards the Government's plan as a practicable long-term policy.
The R.H.A. is adopting a statesmanlike attitude towards the White Paper and is not openly criticizing the points to which it may reasonably be expected to object. It is faced with the almost impossible problem of reconciling the interests of existing hauliers and of those whose businesses have been taken over but wish to return to the industry. The Association is unlikely to succeed in doing so, but is trying to hold a fair balance between the two sides.
Its leaders are not unduly perturbed by Mr. Herbert Morrison's qualified threat of renationalization if a Socialist Government regains power. They believe that a year of operation by private enterprise on the terms provided by the White Paper will yield such gratifying results that the Socialists would not attempt again to place road transport under Government ownership.
Relief from Permits
The importance of an early decision on the date when independent hauliers might expect relief from the 25-mile limit was, it is understood, urged on the Minister and permanent officials. Failing action on this matter in the immediate future, relief from the permit system was, it is believed. requested.
After a two-day conference on the matter at the beginning of the week, when various aspects submitted by the areas were considered, the R.H.A.
authorized the delegates to press
about a dozen specific points.
The party is believed to have received a favourable reception from the Minister, and he and his officials are to study the questions raised. A further meeting between the two sides is expected to take place next week, when the Minister's answers are likely to be available.
Mr. B. Winterbottom, chairman of the Association, led the deputation. Members were Mr. J. Barrie, Mr. R. G. Crowther, Mr. R. H. Farmer, Mr. J. Male, Mr. H. Hunter, Mr. Frank F. Fowler, Mr. H. L. Walker and Mr. 0. G. Wynne.
At meetings of ex-members arranged in the areas by the R.H.A., a high percentage of former hauliers are said to have indicated their Intention of reentering the industry, if possible. In a recent check made in Scotland, over 80 out of 105 men stated that they wished to return.
In the circumstances. the view is held A28 in usually well-informed quarters that the Association will make every effort to secure such arrangements as will facilitate the return of businesses to those already possessing lengthy practical experience of road transport.
A further selection of views on the White Paper appears on the opposite page.
B.R.F. PRESSES M.o.T. FOR ROAD WORKS
A DEPUTATION from the British ti Road Federation was received by the Minister of Transport, last week, and discussed a memorandum on road policy prepared by the B.R.F. Mr. R. Gresham Cooke, chairman of the Federation's highways committee, led the deputation.
The memorandum pointed out that no work had yet been carried out according to the 10-year programme announced in 1946. It was therefore necessary that a programme of road work be initiated forthwith to meet the needs created by defence, accident prevention, productivity and the cost of living.
The B.R.F. suggested to the Minister that works be undertaken on the lines mentioned in a memorandum submitted last year, concerning highway requirements from the aspect of defence. The paucity of the Government's financial allocations to road maintenance in the light of the volume of motor taxation was stressed.
HAULIERS' CONCERN OVER COAL TRAFFIC
Q HEFFIELD and South Yorkshire
hauliers are expressing concern because coal traffic, particularly from open-cast sites, is being switched back to the railways. Mr. E. I. Shaw, chairman of the South Yorkshire Area of the Road Haulage Association, said last week that it was "brutal" that when good weather came, such traffic should be taken from hauliers. They had lost practically the only business they had at the moment, and drivers had to be stood off.
The authorities should realize that hauliers were running their lorries as a business, and not as a rescue service for the railways in the winter. They should be given a fair share of the summer traffic.
More Pay for Bus Workers ?
rOMPANY-OWNED provincial bus
undertakings received, last Friday, a claim from the workers for a substantial increase in wages. About 90.000 employees are affected.
Improved holiday conditions are also being sought. The claims are being examined under the negotiating machinery of the National Council for the Omnibus Industry and a further meeting will be held shortly.
Claims are also to be submitted this month on behalf of 60,000 municipal transport operatives and 58,000 employees of the London Transport Executive.
As reported in "The Commercial Motor" on May 23, an increase of £2 a week in wages is being sought by the engineers employed by provincial bus companies.
R.R.S. REVENUE UP
TRAFFIC receipts of British Road 1 Services in the four weeks to May 18 totalled £6.178,000, compared with £5,961,000 in the comparable period a year ago, and £5.766,000 in the four weeks to April 20. In the first 20 weeks of the year, B.R.S. earned £29,951,000, compared with £28,515,000 in the similar period of 1951.
In the four weeks to April 20. B.R.S. carried 3,185,000 tons and covered 52,784.000 vehicle-miles, compared with 3,601,000 tons and 57,690.000 vehicle-miles in the comparable period of last year.
The British Transport Commission's provincial and Scottish road passenger transport interests yielded £3,416.000 in the four weeks to May 18 and £15.639.000 in the first 20 weeks of the year. London Transport's revenue in the four-week period was 0,405,000. and in the 20-week period £24,369,000. These figures show increases on those of last year.
LESS STEEL
IN the House of Commons, last week, 1 Mr. Duncan Sandys, Minister of Supply, said that slightly less steel will be available in the third quarter of the year than in the second quarter.