Part of the problem seems to be that not all the distributors were members and there was a view that until all the companies were in the Association, then the scheme would never be 100% effective. In 1956 items on the agendas included ‘Petrol Rationing’ and ‘The European Free Zone’. The Ministry of Fuel & Power had agreed to schedule as priority surgical technicians. The National Union of Manufacturers had issued a statement of policy in which it expressed the view that ‘some participation by the UK in the European Free Trade Zone’ was inevitable and would ultimately be of benefit to this country.’ The meeting suggested that some industries and companies would be adversely affected and set up a committee to ‘receive representations so that cases of extreme hardship could be brought to the attention of the Government without delay.’ It was also noted that the Board of Trade were anxious to bring surgical instruments and appliances within the range of industries whose prices were taken into consideration in compiling the Wholesale Price index. In December 1956, the Association received a letter from the AEU Surgical Branch requesting a meeting to discuss the possibility of a pension scheme for workers employed in the industry and the extension to three weeks of the present period of two weeks holiday with pay. These topics would take up a great deal of time over a number of years. And there would be a series of meetings in the early 1960’s with 9 members of BSTA Council and 9 representatives of the Union in attendance. By 1957, the membership had reduced once again and there were 505 members. It meant that the Association had lost 32% of its members in a 6 year period since a peak of 742 companies in 1951.
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