Clues to Board decision . . .
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MR. AUBREY JONES and his largely academic Board have criticized the haulage and passenger sides of the industry in earlier reports, writes John Darker.
Its very first report dealt with haulage rates. It lambasted the RHA for its (then) practice of general rate increase recommendations and encouraged the industry's customers not to accept a five per cent increase, and:— • Urged employers and unions to "develop their newly established voluntary negotiating machinery . . so as to concern themselves jointly with productivity as well as earnings and permit a closer relationship between the two".
• Asked the unions to co-operate in haulage operations based on 40 m.p.h. with vehicles meeting full safety requirements.
• Urged the NEDC committee on distribution to examine terminal and handling costs and the question of extended delivery hours.
But it strongly supported the RHA's pressure on its members to charge demurrage for delays "clearly the responsibility of the customer".
Report No. 14—described as the "final" report on road haulage charges—deplored the poor response of the industry in providing statistical material.
It anticipated that the arbitration award of 30s on basic rate to Millichamp Haulage Ltd. drivers would spread to other firms.
And the Board returned to its productivity theme by urging that "initiative in individual undertakings should be encouraged and supported" by the NNC.
The NNC was asked to "define the broad lines on which changes in the industry should proceed so as to facilitate reform by individual managements".