A Call to the Small Haulier
Page 31
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They Must Not Panic But Cling to Their Tonnage and Get Together to Form a Strong Barrier Against Encroachment by Subversive Interests
By G. L. Bottomley
HOW the transport industry must feel indebted to you for your efforts on their behalf as to their future welfare. If publicity could have the desired effect, then your quest should have ended some long time ago; but, as actions speak louder than words, then let those responsible follow through your numerous leaders on the subject and ascertain what will be the future of the industry.
In this foreword, I am referring to your leader of September 8, "Clear the Decks for Action," which should at least have the effect of pricking the consciences of the numerous federations and organizations which are paid (yes. I said "paid ") to further the interests of their members. Let them hear and heed your" voice" now and wake up to their responsibilities.
We are for ever hearing and reading of the many meetings held by this federation or this organization, but what are the results? None that can be of the necessary assistance to their members. What have they achieved during the war period? Nothing of any benefit to the industry. It must be admitted that their scope has been seriously curtailed by the introduction, of the Ministry's R.H.O., but the ,least they can do is to make some serious endeavour to safeguard the post-war interests of, at least, their clientele. p As, obviously, nothing appears to result from all these various meetings, one must reluctantly draw the conclusion that they are of only propaganda value. Just another "shop window" to advertise themselves and their organizations and in the hope of drawing members who will clutch at any straw which they think will safeguard their future operation.
All those interested in road transport will endorse your remarks that the industry is sufficiently powerful to take up the cudgels immediately any threat is made against it, but even this can be crone by only a representative body, and not by individuals or by a varied assortment of organizations and federations.
Difficulty of Representation Unfortunately, however, it is doubtful if you will ever get a representative body to cover every operator, simply because there has always been too much friction and antagonism and there has always existed that " dogin-the-manger " attitude.
, This was brought about by the fact that in the pre-war stage of the industry the small haulier was, in many cases, looked upon by the larger operator as rather a pest, from the point of view that he (the small haulier) was in the happy position of giving his personal attention to special deliveries, and, as a result, appeared to be always on the move, when, at times, the larger operator had vehicles standing by. Furthermore, in many cases, the small man was in an obviously better position to accept isolated journeys at a lower rate, lacking, of course, the other man's overheads. This, to me, is a situation which-will always prevail, and to which there is no solution, excepting, of course, stabilized rates.
However, for the moment, let us side-track the question of the differences that existed between the different hauliers, also the various existing federations and organizations, and give our attention to the fountain head, the Government. Who would have thought that it would be necessary for representations to be made to Ministers—the people who are responsible for the execution of the war—to point out to them the importance of the industry and its value; supreme value it has been during the present state of the world. How do they imagine the invasions have been successfully carried out; the recent extraordinary progress by our firces; and the necessary transport of supplies to them? How far advanced would we have been to-day if we had had to rely solely on the antiquated railway methods?
I repeat the statement which I have made before, and that is it is not a question of their not being able to see the importance of the industry, but a question of not wanting to see it.
Co-operation the Solution After the foregoing, I feel that I can, to advantage, refer to your leader of September 15, under the heading "Amalgamation or Co-operation," being the furtherance of the cause of the small haulier. If any section of the industry deserves consideration, it is this, which has proved itself most worthy. Just let us recall the efforts of the smaller men and their valued contributions to the cause. Therefore, they should be permitted to continue their existence in the field of future activity. Their best chance of success in this direction is definitely co-operation, not, to my mind, with the large units and combines, but amongst themselves, which co-operation must be 100 per cent.
It is agreed that fair numbers of these operators have attached themselves to various groups, but I do not know of any serious effort in this direction to group the small operators Who are, or were in pre-war days, chiefly concerned in long-distance work. After all, the small man, including the owner-driver, specialized in long-distance werk and was not interested in local haulage. Hence the reason for his unpopularity with the larger operators and the combines, who are against this man and, as a result, have no room for him. Their efforts to remove him can, however, be frustrated, and the means are in the correct organizing of complete co-operation.
As I mentioned in a previous article, the larger operator is, I think, sincerely hoping that tonnages which he has been able to obtain on Defence Permits, and which are in excess of his pre-war total, will be permitted to continue with him after the war. Let us hope that the Government will at least be sufficiently wide awake to withdraw these additional tonnages, and so give all small operators an even chance in open competition.
Let all small, operators heed the warning you have given them in referring to that section which is panicking. They must all keep level-headed, otherwise they are just playing into the hands of those people who are opposed to them. Let them retain the tonnages which they hold, and get together. On inquiry they can find that, with a little scheming, whilst only a small part individually, they can, collectively, form a strong barrier against those who are trying to force their hands.