Is Rates Control Imminent ?
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THE First Annual Reports of the
Licensing Authorities reveal that approximately 50 per cent. of Alicence holders operate only one vehicle, whilst a further 20 per 'cent. own two vehicles. In the ranks of the B-licence holders, as many as 70 per cent. are in the one-vehicle class.
That practically 75 per cent, of the licences to convey goods for hire or reward should be held by firms operating one or two vehicles constitutes a point in the road-transport line of defence that is particularly vulnerable to a further attack from the railways, primarily because many of these operators are not members of any association.
Co-ordination a Failure.
One of the main objects of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1033, was to secure a certain measure of cooperatir between road and rail interests. That it has failed to attain this objective is admitted, as the railways have no desire for co-ordination. They will doubtless, however, lay the responsibility for this failure at the door of the small men outside the associations on the ground that it has been impossible to negotiate with so many individual operators.
It cannot be denied that, whilst there are so many operators unwilling to support an association, there is a certain measure of truth in such a statement, yet the possibility of the railways using this point to press for further road-transport legislation is manifestly disturbing.
At a recent dinner, Sir Cyril W. Hurcomb, K.B.E., CB., Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, quoted the percentage figures previously mentiokyd and his remarks Were disrnctly .ominous,
especially the following These are highly significant figures for all those who are thinking of the further B38 co-ordination of goods transport to ponder on. They explain much and suggest much."
To the thousands of small operators outside the influence of the newly merged national associations, these words should at least create food for thought, and we hope that the result of some hard thinking will be increased association membership. When reviewing the position, it is peculiar to note that it is this type of operator, the man most in need of protection and assistance, who persistently refuses to recognize the advantages of co-operation.
Apathetic Owner-drivers.
Only a year or two ago, Capt. E. H. B. Palmer unsuccessfully attempted to form an Alliance of Owner Drivers, with the object of protecting the interests of this type of operator. To-day, owner-drivers represent a menace to themselves and other operators. They persistently ignore the fair-wages clause and, together with the railways, indulge in drastic rate-cutting, which is inducing further legislation to control rates.
In their reports, the Licensing Authorities were practically unanimous on one point, and that was that the rates problem must be tackled without delay. The obvious inference to be drawn from this unanimity is that unless operators themselves reach a basisfor rtes, the Government will step in and adjust the rates problem for them. Any step which the Commercial Motor Users Association may take will prove to be ineffective, as the " united front" is a fallacy. The. total membership reaches only 18,000 persons, whilst there are 211,268 A, B and C licence holders. No attempt is being made to belittle the Association or its work, but to quote the leading editorial in the issue of The Commercial Motor dated March 27, " To be truly effective there must be 100 per cent. membership of the Association."
Between Two Fires.
Mention is also made in this article of the fact that it would be a simple matter to make membership of an association a condition of holding a licence. This suggestion places road transport between two fires. On one hand, the Authorities say that rates must be controlled from within, otherwise there will he further legislation to control them, yet, as stated previously, it will be impossible for the C.M.U.A. to stabilize rates for the industry unless it can truly claim to represent the majority of operators.
On the other hand, for legislation to be introduced to force operators to join the Association would be tantamount to the C.M.U.A. receiving Government backing and would result in that body being placed in a dictatorial position, from which it would practically control road transport conducted for hire and reward.
Unless ; a miracle happens and membership of the Association increases tenfold within a short space of time, legislation is bound to be forthcoming to control rates, either directly or indirectly. Whether it will be by means of compulsory membership of an association, or through. the mediumof the Licensing--Authori;ties or some .other statutory body, re mains to.be seen. TR_a,.NSEX.