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Hauliers' Attitude Towards Associations 'THE short-sightedness of the haulage contractor
Page 79
Page 80
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1 of to-day is sometimes almost past belief. It is eviaent in a good many directions, but in none so much as in his apathy towards the associations and the work which they are trying to do for him—work which they could do so much better if that apathy were to be diminished. The associations lack only two things to enable them to become capable of doing the maximum of good for the industry : compelling the rectification of the many grievances under which the industry suffers, and stabilizing haulage rates at an economic and remunerative level. The two things lacking are: a near approach to 100 per cent. membership, and adequate funds. The attainment of the one brings the other in its train.
Why do so many hauliers abstain from joining one or other of the principal associations? Because they say they cannot afford the subscription or, alternatively, that they cannot see that they are likely to receive an adequate return for their subscriptions. To appreciate the weakness of this argument, it is necessary only to recall that the majority of their employees, the drivers of their lorries, willingly contribute a shilling a week to trade union funds, their Object in so doing being just the same, so far as their work and livelihood are concerned, as • those which the associations have in view.
The subscription which is asked by the associations is very little more than that for membership of a trade union; the objects, on the other hand, are of tremendously increased importance. There is, in fact, no reason other than this characteristic trait of short-sightedness, which prevents 100 per cent. membership of the associations, and our recommendation to our non-member readers is to give further thought to the matter on the lines just indicated, to consider if the ought not to revise their attitude. ,
Trapping by One Stop-watch
FROM a case in which a lorry driver was recently summoned for exceeding the speed limit, it appears that the police are, in some instances, reverting to the unsatisfactory method of checking speed by the employment of only one stop-watch.
The important motoring organizations are strongly against this method, which is considered to be antiquated and unreliable. In checking the times at sports meetings, etc., several watches are always employed. This would obviously not be done if full reliance could be placed upon the results achieved by utilizing only a single instrument.
This appears to have been realized by the magistrates in the case particularly referred to, because the charge was dismissed on payment of costs.
We suggest that in every case of alleged speeding where one watch is employed, a strong defence should be put forward. Between the Devil and— WHAT is a driver to do if he has completed his legal houis of work yet fails to find accommodation? This is a question asked by an operator, one of whose men could not obtain a place to sleep and went to a police station for advice.
He was there given three addresses, but was still unsuccessful and returned to the station. The police then suggested that he should leave the lorry for a while and continue, later, for London, but this in itself would still have rendered the driving illegal.
Finally, he was told facetiously that the best thing he could do would be to break a window and_ have a " free " night's lodging in a cell, but that might in the end have proved a costly business. Eventually, he took the risk and finished th journey.
The operator who brought this matter to our notice puts forward the interesting suggestion that, in such circumstances, the police might be authorized to give some form of voucher which would exonerate the driver. Such a procedure would, however, have to be made legal, otherwise the police might be accused of complicity, as their task is to see that the law is carried out and not to, concern themselves with how this can be done.
The point raised in the case, however, indicates one of the difficulties with which operators and their employees often have to contend. The situation has been eased, to a certain extent, by the provision of a considerable number of resthouses, but what can be done when these are full and no other facilities are available remains a problem, a solution of which it would appear to be almost impossible to give.
No doubt some of our readers may have been faced with such a contingency, and it would be interesting to know what they did to meet it.