Hauliers Hold Protest Meeting
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HAULIERS, including representatives I I. of many small undertakings, were due to meet in Newcastle-on-Tyne yesterday to protest against alleged unfair treatment he the Road Haulage Executive. Some ex-hauliers, whose businesses have been acquired, had also arranged to attend to ventilate grievances over delays in payment of corn pensat ion. •
Some of those who stated their. intention of being present alleged that the Executive had failed to honour assurances that permits to carry goods outside 25 miles would be freely granted. Hauliers complained that restrictions had been imposed which prevented them continuing normal activities, and some small concerns might have to close. Local officials of the R.H.E. were said A24 to have given unfair decisions on permits and it was alleged that, as a result of restrictions, trade and industry in the northern area were suffering through transport delays.
Ex-hauliers said that their businesses, taken over many months ago, had not been paid for, nor did they know how much they would receive. Many of them were retained by the Executive for a few months and then dismissed, being replaced by inexperienced men. In other instances, former proprietors were offered positions as drivers of what had been their own vehicles. On refusing to accept, they were dismissed.
Local Members of -Parliament were invited to attend the meeting, which was organized by the Northern Area of the Road Haulage Association.