N.E. Scheme : Operators Giving In?
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RESISTANCE to the proposed area scheme for passenger transport in the north-east appears to be crumbling. By sonte means, members of the Northern Road Transport Owners' Association have been persuaded that to fight is useless, and Mr. R. G. Hunter, secretary of the Association, told "The Commercial Motor" on Monday that a meeting of members held last week brought no change in the attitude of many
operators towards the scheme.
Hopes rose several weeks ago after the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association had held a meeting in Newcastle upon Tyne to explain to independent operators their position under the Transport Act. A scheme of expert legal advice for operators in their dealings with the Road Transport Executive was introduced.
P.V.O.A. "Not Representative" After this meeting Mr. Hunter caused surprise by making a statement to the effect that his Association represented 98 per cent. of independent owners , affected by the proposed area scheme, and implying that any decision to fight that might be reached by P.V.O.A. members was not representative of the feelings of operators affiliated to the N.R.T.O.A.
Shortly afterwards, officials of the N.R.T.O.A. met the R.T.E. working party and a representative of 'The Commercial Motor's who was in Newcastle formed the impression that the Association was holding out to see what offer the Executive would make.
When asked by " The Commercial Motor" why so many independent operators were disposed to offer their businesses to the State, Mr. Hunter said that members of his Association thought that the area scheme was inevitable. Over the years they had watched independent operators gradually being ousted and, provided that terms of compensation were suitable, they saw no difference between a company monopoly and a State monopoly.
A Different View
Mr. F. Milton, secretary of the northern area of P.V.O.A. assured
The Commercial Motor" that several of the leading independent operators in the north-east would not sell out, and doubted the unanimity of members of the N.R.T.O.A. ir the declared intention of giving up the struggle. He named three companie.., that would continue the fight until the end.
Opposition is, of course, being continued by the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd. (a member of the BET. group), representatives of which met the working party on Tuesday. The meeting continued rather longer than the company's representatives expected and no statement was available at the time of closing for press.
Those who take part in discussions with the working party are asked to observe secrecy in connection with the proceedings.
Two more Socialist controlled councils have endorsed their support of the area scheme. Northumberland County Council has reversed, by 34 votes to 27, a recommendation of its A28 parliamentary committee that nationalization of road passenger transport would not benefit the travelling public. Opposing the new recommendation, Lord Ridley gave a warning that if the buses were taken over, fares would probably be raised to offset the losses on the railways. The British Transport Commission had given no assurance that bus fares were not to be increased.
Sunderland Town Council last week decided to accept a recommendation from its general purpose committee that it should participate in principle in the scheme. A move by Progressive members, calling upon the council to oppose any scheme interfering with local ownership and control of Sunderland's bus and tram services, was defeated on a straight party vote.
Coun. Hartley Wilkinson, who is vicechairman of the Area Road Haulage Wages Board, pointed out that if passenger services were nationalized, Sunderland's representatives on any management committee that might be set up, might find themselves outvoted on matters affecting the operation of the town's own transport.
Meanwhile, a deputation, headed by Bedlington (Northumberland) Urban District Council, and including representatives of a number of local authorities on Tyneside, has interviewed a public relations officer of the B.T.C. and requested that rail fares should be lowered to a level more in conformity with bus fares. Afterwards, Colin. Holliday (Bedlington) said the deputation felt that it had met with some success.
Workers to `,` Vet " Running Schedules
FURTHER meetings have been held between the Transport and General Workers' Union and road transport operators on the question of running schedules to be observed if the speed limit for heavy goods vehicles be increased to 30 m.p.h. Machinery for the approval of schedules, which are to be prepared by managements in conjunction with the employees, has been agreed. Area and national bodies, to which failures to reach agreement on running schedules can be referred, are to be set up.
A joint approach has been made to the Minister of Transport to secure his assistance in setting up enforcement machinery.
Informal discussions have also started between the Union and the Road Transport Executive for the setting up of negotiating machinery.
NO HURRY TO SELL OUT!
OPERATORS who receive notices of I.-Inquisition need not hurry over their negotiations with the Road Transport Executive. Ample time is available for all points to be fully discussed. The Road Haulage Association has a panel of expert advisers, and at every stage members should make every possible use of the free services provided.
These points were stressed by Mr. B. Winterbottom, a vice-chairman of the R.H.A. and chairman of the long-distance panel; at a meeting in Reading, last week.