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Two Urgent Needs By a Special Correspondent R OAD transport—for long

6th November 1936
Page 72
Page 72, 6th November 1936 — Two Urgent Needs By a Special Correspondent R OAD transport—for long
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

crying out for attention in the lay Press—has lately found itself "in the news" and, in the main, is by no means pleased about it. The "lorry girl," whose existence has recently been discovered by the outside world, is the figure in the limelight. A medical officer in the north of , Engla4n1 has reported at length on the subject, trade unions have gone into the matter, investigations have been carried out by the C.M.TJ.A. Manchester Area (which is shortly to compile a report) and a white-slavery prevention society at Liverpool is understood to be urging action in this connection.

All this, linked up with odd scraps of news on the same subjett, is the reason for " splash " stories of the type that the general newspaper reader finds full of interest. It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good and what is lamentable from the road-transport angle must have been a" gift" for the newspapers concerned

Lay Press Antagonistic?

" The lay Press has got a ' down ' on road transport," a haulier told me, the other day, "Daily newspapers never publish anything but what it is detrimental." That, briefly, is the comment of the vast majority of members of the industry. Supposing, for the moment, that it is true that road transport does not get a fair showing in the Press generally—whose fault is it ?

Obviously that of the newspapers, or so the much-maligned industry will tell you. I venture to differ. Is there anyone charged with the duty of keeping the public acquainted (through the Press and by other means) with the development of road transport and its possibilities ? If so, I have not heard of him.

The average journalist has to deal with all kinds of subjects and has to turn to official sources to supplement facts which-he gathers in the ordinary course of business. Press officers are ready to advise the newspaper man on railways, amusement parks, electrical developments and a host of other topics, but if a query arises on road transport, I am certain that the average writer does not know in which B6

direction to turn for a completely satisfactory reply.

As.many readers will know, the Press (or public relations) officer not only supplies information, but issues bulletins regarding important developments, and it is by this means that many an interesting investigation is started. If road transport does not get a fair showing through the Press and other means for reaching the public, then, it seems to me, road transport itself must be to blame.

When there is news of importance, the real journalist will secure it, but there must always be matters of limited interest which can attain the dignity of print only when the necessary information is readily available. That is where a " Press-conscious" association comes in,

Fate of the "Lorry Girl."

From the abstract I may be Permitted to return to the practical. What, if anything, is going to be done about the 'lorry girl" and her haunts, particularly the latter? With the development of long-distance haulage, amazing numbers of refreshment houses have sprung up along certain main roads that are heavily used by through transport. The transport-café business seems to be one in which a measure of control would do no harm, but there does not appear to be any likelihood of such a development!

Overnight allowances are now com monly more generous than in days gone by, so that much of the reason for the existence of the rougher establishment has•beerrabolished. if such places disappeared entirely, the unfortunate girls who attach themRelves to these roadside rests would drift back to the lower industrial districts and ports from which they probably originated. For all the stories, their number is not great. On the vast bulk of roads, transport workers can be catered for by the ordinary refreshment facilities. It is only where continuous heavy traffic occurs, necessitating extensive parking spaces being provided by those who desire to cater for lorry drivers, that the special transport café arises. It may be that, following the investigations now in progress, a survey will be made of the relatively few main roads where the problem is acute and lists made of recommended accommodation.

An interesting alternative suggested to me by an operator is the establishment of a chain of "goods stations" at, say, 20-mile intervals, on busy highways. They might be developed, using present well-conducted establishments as a basis. • Essential Facilities.

Facilities which are suggested as essentialare ample quietly situated sleeping accommodation, adequate parking space, dining-rooms which would be open at all hours, recreation room, some warehousing room, telephones (so that communication between operators and drivers may be simplified) and willingness to operate a voucher system so that charges' cbuld be made direct to employers. The vouchers would be marked with details of goods supplied, together with the date and times of arrival and departure.

Certainly, some such chain of approved halts (where it was known that accommodation must either conform with a set standard, otherwise the establishment would be removed from the list) would solve many problems both for drivers and operators.

Some people may contend that the state of affairs described in the Press is nothing to do with the operators. However, the fact has to be faced that the stories may not be without their effect on the prestige of road transport and anything that can be done to create a better atmosphere will he worth while. Probably that is the reason underlying the C.M.U.A. investigation. What practical suggestions will arise remain to be seen Drivers and the keepers of the betterclass cafés will be the first to welcome some. constructive action.

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Locations: Liverpool

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