Road and Rail Cases Presented at A.R.O. Luncheon
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Improved Relations Between the Two Big Transport Media may be Expected as a Result of the Closer Co-operation. and Better Understanding of Mutual Problems uow Occurring
ASTORY is told in Germany that, on one occasion, when Goering was informed that the people of the country might object to a certain procedure he remarked, That's quite all right. We have only to make the Ftlhrer bay to get what we want." Hitler might have dissolved into tears if he had seen the Annual Luncheon of Associated Road
• Operators, held last Wednesday at Grosvenor House, because this was probably almost the closest approach to • a pre-war function as could have been achieved. There were some 700 members and guests, including the elite of the transport world, and the chair was taken by that most polished speaker, Major H, E. Craw furd, A.F.C., the President of the Association.
After the loyal toast, the President gave that of " His Majesty's Ministers." He said this luncheon is no shop window; in fact, there are few guests, the vast majority being actually engaged in the operation of road haulage. These annual functioes serve a double purpose--as a reunion of members and as an opportunity of meeting the Ministers of Transport as they IR across the stage. We represent the bad boys' • of the transport industry. Having attracted Ministers here under the pretext of entertaining them, we tell them what we think of their work and then give them a chance to reply.
We represent, as no otie else does, the road-haulage industry and, conse quently, have come in for much
criti
• cism, but we may be compared with the elliptical and circular tables at this luncheon: there are 'no awkward corners in the A.R.O. We have always refused to co-operate when, in our opinion, this would be against the public interest. Yet, we have been chided by a Minister of Transport for this attitude.
Stability of the Haulage industry
The A.R.O. has gone from strength to strength and is now more secure and stable financially than ever before. Credit for this must be given to those two great servants of the Association, Messrs. R. W. Sewill and R. Hindley. The degree of stability that has been attained in the 'haulage industry is remarkable, particularly' in respect of licensing and wages. The only thing that remains is the question ol rates in their relationship' to those of the railways. The period of strife between these two interests culminated in the " Square Deal " campaign, but out of this warfare a new understanding and a new spirit were born. They were the beginnings of tolerance and the first glimpses of respect. Therailways were surprised to find that the men in road transport actual]y wore collars and ties —even on weekdays.
Now, it may be possible to arrive at Some agreed policy, as transporting at e,18 uneconomic rates does no good to anyone. He thought that it would be advisable to have statutory control of suitable rates, taking into consideration costs and wages.
Seven years ago' a warning was given regarding the need to organize road transport for war, and this was repeated. annually. Yet the war found transport unprepared, but the A,R.0,. arose to the occasion, one of its tasks being the conveyance of 600,000 Anderson shelters in three months in only one area, this work being perforrnedin conjunction with the railways:
Work Trebled by Transport Movement Then Traffic Movement was brought into being and opened to every haulier. From this emerged the scheme for meat haulage, when, within 10 days, 500 cal-..
lecting centres were set up; now there are 570, and only six changes have been 'bade in personnel. To date, nearly 10,000,000 cattle, sheep, calves, etc., have been " taken for a ride."
Other work consisted of the transport of tens of, thousands of tons of iron and steel scrap from village dumps; but following this, never in the history of financial matters could so many have waited so long for so little!
This work could never have been done without the devoted services of the area and sub-area secretaries. In war, as in peace, this industry is capable of undertaking any task wtsich it is called upon to perform.
As regards the Ministry's haulage scheme, Major Crawfurd said that light running in the haulage indus try was practically non-existent to-day. At the same time, he con gratulated Mr. C. A. Birtchnell on his co-operation by the formation of a Consultative Committee. -He had often gone far to soften the official code, but if any such scheme is to prove a success it must carry the industry with it.
There was now more and more co-operation with other associations, and the Standing Joint Committee has just put forward a scheme to do in a bigger way what Transport Movement set out to do.
As regards the future freedom of the industry, it has already given up mush; anything else would be an act of treachery, against wtich that of Judas Iscariot. Would be a crown of glory.
In replying, Colonel J. J. Llewellin, C.B.E., MC., Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of War Transport, said that the 'luncheon reflected great credit on the transport • industry as a whole in respect of the carriage of food and the large attendatice of road and rail members. The Ministry wished both parties well and+would welcome a proper level of rates. He hated the idea of. setting up a large number of committees, but when embarking upon a new scheme he thought it wiser to have the best advice. Speed in transport was equally important to speed in other services. He gave great credit to the work done by hauliers after air raids. He hoped to bring in enough fuel fOr the industry's needs, and to keep the .roads passable for its vehicles; he was getting the highway authorities to remove road obstacles where possible, and to illu minate others. .
The toast of " The Guests " was proposed by Captain J. W. Jones, R.M.A., Chairman, A.R.O. He referred to the good feeling between rood and rail, particularly in the West of England, and this happily, introduced the response by Sir Ronald Matthews, Chairman of the Railway Companies' Association and of the L.N.E.R., and now President of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, in which be was formerly Chairman af the Transport Sub-committee: He said that he had come in with feeling of trepidation, but after the nice things that had been said regarding the rail-; ways and the hospitality received, he felt better. At the same time, he would not stress the greater safety of travel by rail.
Trader Objects to, Transport Monopoly He referred to the great part which Messrs. Sewell and Sewill had taken in bringing about better understanding between rail and road, and whatever the outcome of this work, thereowould never be the, old antagonism. The trader does not want transport monoply—he wants to send. his goods by the best means and not see them weakened by internecine competition.
He could see no reason for handing over to the clammy hand of bureaucracy 'transport organizations which had been built up over many years, but he stressed the need for putting a " floor" to road rates. He hoped that, eventually, the holding of a C licence would be 'considered a gross extravagance.
Lieut.-General Sir B. N. Sergison Brooke, .K.C.V.O., C.B., C.M.G.,' D.S.O. (G.O.C. London District), also replied. '