Fighting the Fire Enemy
Page 17
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'TRANSPORT operators have a maul fold responsibility in keeping their vehicles on the road. Not only is there the matter of self-preservation, but they owe it to the manufacturers and traders who are their patrons to do all possible in protecting their rolling stock from the effects of enemy action, In connection with the spotter system, however, the industry faces different problems from those of other groups of employers, for road-transport workers are the only class whose hours are governed by Act of Parliament, So far it has not been clearly defined for most people whether civil-defence work is in the nature of spare-time amusement or real labour, but the driver can hardly be said to have had a continuous rest period if it has been obligatory upon him to report and keep watch during an " alert," With the present shortage of suitable men, employers in the affected districts will not want constantly to consider re-arrangement of drivers' duties as a result of nocturnal warnings, and some more satisfactory basis must surely be sought than the employment of those members of the staff who are going to be most urgently required after a raid is over, Where the fleet is substantial full-time service is clearly advisable, for already, owing to the absence of spotters, certain operators have sustained a heavy loss.
Some employers have felt their responsibility finished when they have 'engaged watchers whose qualifications are purely those of watchmen. This is another respect in which the roadtransport operator differs from the
manufacturer or trader. In most fax., tories the night watchman will be able to take all the necessary action in the matter, but in the case of an important garage it is clearly desirable that the watcher shall be able to drive the vehicles to places of safety.
Upon the staffs of almost all substantial operators are older men, now working as second hands or doing jobs in the garage, who are capable drivers.