EVIDENCE AT WAGES INQUIRY CRITICIZED.
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Addressing a meeting of A.R.O. members at Selby, on Monday, Mr. F. G. Bibbings, A.R.O. Yorkshire Area secretary, strongly criticized evidence given on behalf of the National Joint Conciliation Board, at last week's sitting of the Government committee of -inquiry into wages and working conditions of goods-transport employees.
Mr. Bibbings wished to know on what authority Mr. William Edwards, of the National Road Transport Employers' Federation, claimed to speak on behalf of the owners of 424,000 lorries and vans. "My own opinion," said Mr. Bibbings, " is that he would be at his wits' end to prove that he represents even I per cent. of those owners."
The appointment of the Government committee was more than welcome. Not only was the National Board unrepresentative, but from the beginning the employers' panel had been mesmerized by " the Bevin complex."
The acid test of the confidence of Mr. Edwards and, indeed, of every member of the employers' panel of the National Board, in the soundness and practicability of the conciliation agreement, was that not one of them had had the courage to go into the provinces and debate the award.
Rail Interests at Road Rates Conference?
In accordance with a resolution unanimously adopted by a committee appointed by A.R.O. Yorkshire Area to consider rates stabilization, an approach has been made to the• railway interests on the question of road-rail co-ordination of freight rates. Railway officials have been invited to meet a deputation for a conference on the subject.
The overtures have been made on the ground that, before any schedule of road rates are submitted to the Yorkshire Licensing Authority, as furnishing a standard of recognized rates, it is desirable to ascertain the railway attitude on the problem.
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