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A.R.O. President Condemns Government Scheme

7th August 1942, Page 31
7th August 1942
Page 31
Page 31, 7th August 1942 — A.R.O. President Condemns Government Scheme
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A T the annual general meeting of A.R.O. held on July 29, the President, Major H. E. Crawford, A.F.C., made strong criticisms on the Government's Road Haulage Scheme.

A year ago he indicated, on behalf of the members, that the Association• was prepared, to give full support, to this scheme. It was felt that it was right that in the event of a national emergency the Government should have the call on a large fleet of vehicles. Also, that it should be satisfied, that efficient and economical use was made of the transport available and, particularly, of fuel, It was con

sidered that these were' the only valid reasons for any Government control qver the movement of vehicles.

Against the better judgment of those who know the facts about road transport, the Government scheme went far beyond this, but even then the industry was given an assurance that no undue preference would be shown to Government-controlled vehicles and the word " partnership " was freely used. The undertaking has, however, not been honoured, nor has any advantage accrued to the Nation from the Government handling of traffic. In fact, the scheme could be aptly described as clumsy, costly and bureadcratic.

If efficiency and economy are to be the criterion, the whole of this organization is redundant, and it would be in the best interests of the national war effort if all Government traffic were handled' by the Hauliers National Traffic Pool, and all direction of traffic by the Government were given up. There is ,no need for any new machinery. That already exists in the peon of the Regional Transport Commissioners, who have largely won the confidence of the industry by the way they have administered an exceptionally bad Act of Parliament.

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