History
The History of the West Australian Road Transport Industry
By Russell McKinnon
The Government told the Association that it was not going to enforce the compulsory wearing of seat belts on commercial vehicles. However, later in the year there was a turnaround on this stance
1970 F
red Howe (60) retired from Fremantle’s United Transport (WA) Pty Ltd in October and his photo appeared in the Fremantle-Cockburn News. Alongside him were two longstanding workmates —Bert Thomas (59) of Cottesloe and Harold Stagg (64) of Bicton. Fred had notched up 31 years in the industry while Bert had 31 years and Harold 39. Fred started on long hauls to the northwest in the early days of exploration and seismic work for oil. The final Executive Council meeting of the year, on December 21, lasted just 35 minutes where it was decided to raise the cartage rate schedule. Various factors forcing this move were the 6 percent increase in the national wage and 5 percent increase in vehicle operating costs. This led to a 5 percent rise in the cartage rate from January 1, 1971 with the exception of interState rates, which were to rise 3 percent to Adelaide and Melbourne and 2 percent to Sydney and Brisbane. The State Shipping Service carried 167,696 tonnes of cargo from Fremantle to the North West in 1970. This was to dwindle to about half in the 1980s as road transport doubled to more than 280,000 tonnes.
1971 The Owner-Drivers’ Association made an approach to WARTA to join as a separate section, it was reported to the February 3 24
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Executive Council meeting. The Executive cautiously supported the move. The Government told the Association that it was not going to enforce the compulsory wearing of seat belts on commercial vehicles. However, later in the year there was a turnaround on this stance. Meetings must have become heated in the boardroom as two electric fans were ordered on February 3. Mr E J Hindle resigned his position on the Transport Advisory Council and was replaced by J A S Warwick. The Furniture Removers’ Division held a meeting in Bunbury at the Bunbury Hotel of March 5. All but two of the local removers’ community attended, after which a 15-minute film, called “Wagon Wheels of the 21st Century” was shown. The road tax reared its head again and was aired at the Quarterly Meeting of May 13. Members’ opinions on the Government’s intention to abolish the tax were: • That the Association should take no action; • T hat although the present method of collection created problems, the existing legislation had been generally accepted by the majority of carriers; • The existing method enabled many carriers to evade the tax; • If an alternative method was asked for, the Association should examine the possibilities of increased licence fees for commercial vehicles. It was further discussed that a system of graded licence fees be adopted according to the type of work done by the vehicles, which would also be given special identification plates. A deputation met the Minister for Transport on May 22 and came away from the meeting perplexed at the lack of any
advice as to an alternative method of collecting a tax by the Government. The Association opposed the introduction of daylight saving as there were “no benefits to be derived”. The Annual General Meeting of the Transport and Shipping Division of July 5 heard that although the lifting of regulations for the North-West areas had greatly benefitted the industry, it was felt that easing of permit fees and the extension of the free operating radius should be strongly argued. Mr W Roots stood down from the chairmanship after four years at the helm and R Hunter, of Wigmore’s, elected as Chairman. Other members present represented Dickenson’s, Bays Smith Allan, Mainline, Soltoggio, Crosby and R P North. The Long Distance Division was agreed to at the August 11 Executive Council Meeting. Mr J Philiphoff slated his retirement from the road transport industry and he was thanked for his services, which included numerous committee stints. Mr G A Dickenson retired as a Trustee, a position he held since 1947. He had earlier spent five years on the Committee. Commercial vehicles were excluded from the Hay Street Mall, Perth between the hours of 11am and 3pm. The Association expressed its disappointment that the Government did not consult the industry before submitting the proposals to the State Government, as promised, concerning the road tax. The proposed abolition was later rejected and the status quo retained. A Donnybrook Branch was vibrantly working in 1971. The Association Golf Day was held on September 24 and was reported as a resounding success.
