The following statement was issued by the Executive Committee of the National Union of Railwaymen on April 22nd, that is,before the Government announced its decision that it is giving British Railways the go~ahead to proceed with introducing liner trains.
"That having given the most serious consideration to the memorandum of the meeting with Dr. Beeching and the British Railways Board on April 1, and the meeting with the Minister of Transport on April 13, we are convinced that to proceed with liner trains on the basis of accepting sub-contracts from private road hauliers, which is essentially what open terminals means y would be against the best interests of the country, the proper integration — of transport, and detrimental to British Railways, We therefore decline to co-operate with the B.R.B,. in furthering a project which, in our opinion, would have these effects, A fair assessment of the position could be obteined were the the B.R.B. to start the first route on the terms offered by this Union.
"In order that our members will be fully conversant with everything involved, special District Council meetings must be convened at a very early date; such meetings to be addressed by officers and members of this National Executive Committee, The Minister of Transport and the Chairman of the B.R.B, are to be informed of this decision and any developments reported to this Executive Committee. We instruct the General Secretary accordingly."
Commenting,Railway Review, the Union's journal, said:
"It is certainly difficult, in the interests of efficiency and economy, to find good reason why the Railways Board are so adamantly insistent that our nationalised railway industry should sub-contract to private hauliers. Surely, the success of the liner train project cannot depend on such a vulnerable arrangement?
"Having spent millions of pounds on it alread
t y the Railways Board mus be more than confident that they have a winning system, This parts so . oe orig iar Sa canvassers from "bringing home the bacon," ferais
a difficu ask when, as we are told, all the aces are i
. : n the Board's hand? And particularly as a flying start could be made with traffic already promised, So what is wrong with getting on with the job, using railway cartage staff? They have the experience, equipment and facilities Why pay a_middleman's profit unnecessarily? :
"Why should a nationalised ind
alis ustry like the railways i to private hauliers, seeking traffic on their terms? ie tatinae aha
.