FAIR PLAY FOR BOTH SIDES

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 126, 24 November 1932, Page 12

FAIR PLAY FOR BOTH SIDES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Regarding the controversy which has come to a head on the subject of the proposals . for Goods Transport Regulations, I haj-e recently been travelling in some of the southern provinces and have been very forcibly struck by the evidence of the unfair way in which quite easily these regulations .might have operated. I had occasion to be in touch with various goods transport operators, who told me that they had had no notice whatever from the Transport Department that any .regulations were pending/ and were absolutely astonished when they were shown draft regulations which in the normal course of things would have become law without their hearing anything of the matter at all.

The facts seem to, be that the Transport • Department assured inquirers over many months that these regulations now proposed, which were absolutely vital to the goods transport industry, would be broadcasted to everyone , concerned for their comment in ample time;.' So far so good-:and this 'is What- one would have expected as ordinarily decent -treatment. As a matter of fact, I find .that this' was done when the regulations governing the passenger transport business were. first proposed. It would be interesting to hear from the Transport Department any reason they can give us as to why every goods haulier was not in common fair-* ness circularised and given a reasonable chance of voicing his opinion either personally or through any organisation to which he might belong. The excuse which was attached to the draft regulations in the comparatively few cases where these were put out —to wit. that it was intended to clear all the matter up before the Christmas session of Parliament ended, is altogether too thin, and. leaves in the mind of every inquirer a very nasty suspicion that it is intended to rush these regulations through without the persons most concerned being given any chance-to give reasons why their living should not be taken from them summarily. ■•.-.-■.., I can-quite easfly produce the facts to back up my- statements, and it would be interesting" if this phase of the question were .referred to the Transport Department.'—l am', etc., ■ "

. ".'■, ':■•■ ~.jV J. WILLIAMS. [The Transport Department replied today that it would be impossible to circularise every carrier, of goods individually, but-large o£ copies of the draft regulations', had been sent to the two known organisation's known to represent the people, affected—the Master Carriers' Association' and the recently formed association- of long distance hauliers. The regulations had also.been published in the Press, and any individual request for a copy wasicomplied with without cost by return maiK The complaint that reasonable time was not being allowed for the voicing of complaints was not valid, as the Department, in order to give every one interested ample opportunity to make representations, had extended the closing date to Ist December: This meant that the carriers had approximately six weeks in which'to raise ( objections.]