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ommercial otor
Page 37
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VOLUME 135 No. 3466 May 12, 1972
No more law needed
Members of the Road Haulage Association must not get too excited about Mr Peyton's remarks at the Association's annual dinner on Tuesday. Loudly applauded though they were by operators and others alike, there are questions which must be posed and answered. It is only 30 months since the then RHA chairman asked the Government to give the industry 25 years' peace from changing legislation; this week that same industry is clamouring for change, and because of John Peyton's "disappointment" over the 0-licence system it is apparently thought that change is inevitable.
Undoubtedly, changes are required. Unlawful activities in whatever sphere of industrial life discredit that particular sector. Evidence suggests that road transport is rife with such activities and something must be done to change this state of affairs, but not by new legislation.
Surely, the remedy lies in the hands of the hauliers and their professional association. The RHA by statutory right can object to 0-licence applications yet to date its interventions in this field have been abysmal. If the Association was seen to exercise its rights, undesirables would undoubtedly be deterred trom applying for an 0-licence. But such evidence is almost non-existent. Something has gone wrong with the system.
RHA objections have to be processed through headquarters and members at local level do not feel a personal involvement. They should be actively encouraged to rid the industry of unqualified people who engage in unlawful competition. Where this exists members should be encouraged to round up the 'cowboys" and sink the "pirates".
This s the way in which the RHA should expend its energy. It is surely more desirable that the 1968 Act should be made to work; the alternative is a prolonged period for modification of the law. The outcome of this would be costly and in the process many members could fall by the wayside.