Operators Stirred to• Write
Page 22
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The Many Problems, Present and Future, Which Confront Hauliers and Other Classes of User; Are Inducing Them to, Take Greater Interest in Matters Affecting Their Freedom
By
I I
Tantalus "
jir is a notable fact that, resulting from war-time 1 exigencies, road-transport operators are so stimulated
as to give-enore frequent expression to their views. There is, as a result, a constant flow of correspondence which' -covers most aspects of present-day Problems, so that, in selecting certain of them for publication, the Editor of this journal is faced with no easy task, owing to the lack of space occasioned by paper restrictions. Operators who, either through lack of interest or Courage, hitherto would never have put pen to paper now do so unhesitatingly. This is a good sign, for it indicate that hauliers are closely folloWing current events and, moreover, are anxious to make known their personal views.
An interesting communication was received recently from a Bristol haulier and this is what he wrotet—" I should like to make some comment on articles in your last week's issue. With reference to your suggestions for a scheme to employ ex-Service men, I think it is an excellent one and 'worthy ol support. We have a moral responsibility to give the men who are now fighting a chance when they come home.
" But—and it is a big but—shall we be freed() do as we think fit? Every indication points that even as canals went out so Shall we. The Government is committed to support the railways. It has already under its control the most important of road hauliers. Is it likely it will let go when the war ends? , . ' • " What does the T.U.C. say about it as it is the most influential body outside the Government? There always seems to be somebody who throws a spanner in the works as soon as an organization capable of doing something is in danger of being formed.
`' Surely the ancillary users realize that it will be their turn next if the professional haulier be liquidated, ,national. or rationalized, "The article by ' Tantalus," Do Associations Need Big Financial Reserve?' seems to cast doubts on the desirability of associations having big reserves. Sutely the bigger the better should be the watchword.
"II we are going to ptit up a fight to retain our businesses, which we have built up from nothing by sheer hard work, surely it will require far larger reserves than are at present held by the associations.
" If we are to choose between being a member of a huge operating concern or at the tender mercies of an unsympathetic Government, let us choose the former.
" With reference to the article on alternate fuels, surely everybody realizes that the Government policy definitely
murdered the steamer and it does not intend to resurrect it-c,
Dealing With Diverse Topics It will be observed 'that in the foregoing the correspondent touches upon a number of points dealing with varied subjects which, though related, do not tie up.
There is the first, in which he strongly supports the scheme initiated by " The Commercial Motor " regarding the post-war emRloyment of serving members of the industry. He admits, in fact, that there is a moral responsibility to give the fighting men a chance when they return. How
is it to be done? No suggestion is offered by the correspondent, who proceeds to the sec'ond point in his communication and asks the very pertinent question whether hauliers will be free after the war to do as they think fit. Of course, they will not. The day already has been lost in that respect. The question affecting the future is not whether hauliers will be able to do as they think fit so much as to what extent they will be able to " do " at all.
Presumably, the speaker in question is a member of an association; in such event it is relevant to inquire what steps he, personally, has taken to press the point home to headquarters and what' action has he demanded. If no such.,steps have been taken he, as a critic, is on a bad wicket. It is; however, never too late to mend, and if this Bristol haulier, as well aa those who think likewise, has 'the welfare of the fighting men at heart and a genuine desire to see that they get a square deal he should, without delay, beoome•a propagandist, shouting from the housetops until the whole edifice of indifference and selfishness crumbles in ruins.
Reprding the reference made to a spanner being thrown in the works as soon as an organization capable of doing something is in " danger" of being formed, this is not quite clear. It is asserted that the S.J.C. •Federation is what " Bristolian " has in mind, as this would appear to be the only one which fills the bill. If so, his comment is very illuminating as it gives clear indication that all is not well in that particular direction.
After many weary months of travel along a tortuous road of meetings and negotiations the committee has progressed so far aa, forming shadow councils; not, perhaps, a wonder ful achievement after so long a period. Whatuse are shadows whiCh are so closely related to fear, uncertainty and doubt? The essentials, surely, are solidity, substance and confidence translated into action. Until the roadhaulage industry can claim to have a Co-ordinated organization so fortified it will continue to he sacrificed on the altar of restriction and repressive control.
Problem of Association Reserves
Reverting to " Bristolian's " suggestion. that the writer deprecated in a recent article the building up of big reserves by associations, that is not correct. The point made was in reference to the use to which such reserves should be put and not that the creating of reseryes is wrong in itself. For example, if the members of a particular association were informed that a campaign would be undertaken after the war to fight for the removal of all unnecessary restrktiont• and for the reinstatement in the. industry of hauliers now serving in H.M. Forces, than, in the words of the Bristol correspondent, the bigger the reserve the better. If reserlies are to be used in the fight for freedom no One can object; but if they be accumulated, and not, used in an effort to break the fetters which bind so many hauliers, certainly criticism is warranted.
Just as surely as the country itself, is still fighting for its life and future freedom, so are hauliers fighting in a lesser degree for their individualfexistence. This being so, it behoves each and everyone to take all possible steps to stir to action the particular association to which he belongs.
As a regular reader of this journal the Bristol haulier, -doubtless, has seen the report of a meeting of the A.R.O. held recently in Leeds, on which occasion the 10-point policy outlined by the President was discussed. In that case he will have noted that the discussion was centred mainly around a suggestion relative to the establishment of a road-transport training college by the industry. The suggestion, by the way, had been featured preViously in these columns. Has it occurred to the correspondent that not one word was mentioned concerning the post-war status of hauliers or the position of serving members of the industry on their return to civilian life? Dees it not seem strange to him that his fellow hauliers Can spend valuable time discussing a question which, although entirely admirable, at the present juncture must be regarded as extraneous to the much graver issues confronting operators?
If the Bristolian desires that the service man shall be afforded a rightful opportunity to return to the industry, as he commendably states in his letter, then he and his fellow members must work assiduously to that end. Lip service must be translated into active service of the most vigorous character, •