Naughty, Naughty!
Page 38
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VEN the obvious seems to take on a sinister aspect when it is pointed out by authority. Major F. S. Eastwood, chairman of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, has incurred the displeasure of the Rural District Councils Association by expressing the fear (as reported in The Commercial Motor on December 13) that, because of rising costs and declining traffic. many more villages will lose their bus services.
Mr. Neville Hobson, vice-president of the Association, has protested against Major Eastwood's remark, although he has been careful not to accuse the Commissioners of prejudging cases that have not yet come before them. But he makes it clear that any undue withdrawal of rural services will be strongly resisted.
Pleasure With Business
0 100-ton loads reached me last week with a consignment 'TWO
signed by my old friend R. B. 13rittain, of Essex
Carriers, Ltd. One consisted of 100 tons of good wishes for Christmas and the other of an equal quantity of hope for a prosperous New Year. "These sentiments conveyed entirely at sender's risk•(Goodwill Act, f957)," said the note. They were received in perfect condition and arc warmly reciprocated.
On The Air
--r-HE merits of road and rail are to be argued by a panel on the B.B.C. Home Service at 9.15 p.m. on January 16. There will be a railway official, a member of the Road Haulage Association, a trader and Mr. C. S. Dunbar, acting in a neutral capacity.
Mr. Dunbar has recently been using his voice as inuch as his pen, for he has been giving a series of lectures on transport to Ford representatives all over the country. He is also reading his prize paper on the problem of passenger transport in small towns and rural districts to the Institute of Transport at Norwich on January 6.
Wanted—A Handle
THE trend for people who perform a variety of humdrum jobs to be given high-sounding, prestige-building titles continues, but passenger-transport operators retain the traditional names for platform staff. In some parts of the country "guard" is used instead of "conductor," but a driver is always a driver. Mr. Ronald Cox, general manager of Rochdale Transtiort Department, with whom I discussed the matter a few days ago, differs from a number of northern operators in using the title "conductor," so that his undertaking's female staff are. naturally, called. "conductresses." "Clippie' has public appeal and is certainly much better than "woman guard." which leaves the impression of a female prison warder. 54 A question was raised recently regarding a distinctive title for the person in charge of a one-man bus. Here is a chance for imagination.
Bag Men
BUS inspectors of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., in York had a new rate last week, for in between controlling a special service put on for old people, they helped to sort foodstuffs into carrier bags. The occasion was the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs' Christmas Cheer Fund distribution, when local transport operators—West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., Tanton's and Fawcett's—ran 18 coaches to bring in old-age pensioners from all parts of the city to see a film show and to receive food and money. Mr. Cyril Garforth, West Yorkshire traffic superintendent in York, co-ordinated the arrangements; which ran on well-oiled wheels.
A Right Bona
LJAVING decided why Britain drives on the left (The Commercial Motor, September 13). the Royal Automobile Club have been trying to find out why so many countries disobligingly do the other thing. Apparently it is all to do with Napoleon and battle strategy.
Lion-hearted Richard set a fashion in attacking from the left flank, which prevailed until Napoleon conceived the crafty idea of launching offensives from the right. It was so successful—at least until Waterloo—that he extended the principle to movement by road and every conquered country had to follow suit. That other little man. Hitler, adopted similar tactics when he occupied Austria, which had formerly driven on the left. . So if you want to confuse your enemies, drive in the wrong direction up a one-way street.
Tough Eggs
OH! to be in Ceylon now that nationalization's (nearly) there. Mr. Vere de Mel, chairman of the Ceylon Transport Board, has asked the Prime Minister for special police protection for the Board's vehicles and property during the first six months of State ownership. The present private operators are expected to be distinctly awkward.
But even at the height of the area-scheme scare in England, Lord Hurcomb never looked more than mildly harassed.
First Things Last
" MANY people may have some trouble with their board of directors," I read. There are, for instance, transport managers who insist that their prime function is to operate commercial vehicles, and not to run car clubs on expenses.