Merger of the Institutes nearer
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• There has been encouraging support for the proposal that the four professional bodies in road transport should adopt a common education policy {CM April 4).
The chairman of the Industrial Transport Association, Mr. Hugh Douglas, who initiated the current moves, told CM this week that he was certain that there would be wide areas of agreement when talks got fully under way. It is understood that the national council of the ITA gave the proposals its unqualified assent at its meeting in Birmingham last Saturday.
Talks between the bodies will be delayed until the Minister of Transport has approved the proposals for qualifications for transport managers' licences. One effect of the new policy would be to produce students from the four bodies in sufficient numbers at large centres to justify worthwhile classes.
Suggestions have been made in some sectors that this is a first and welcome step towards complete integration of the Institute of Transport, the Industrial Transport Association, the Institute of Road Transport Engineers and the Institute of Traffic Administration. However, it is appreciated by its advocates that there would be many difficulties to be overcome before a merger could be completed.
One suggestion currently being discussed unofficially by individuals is that a "holding company" type of organization embodying all four for administrative, policy and educational matters would be a sound initial step. Each unit would retain its own identity.