A Tragedy ". Says Mr. Burnell
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A: PERSONAL message from Mr. J. B. Burnell, opefating manager of London Transport's central. road services, which described the rejection of London Transport's bonus scheme by busmen as a " tragedy," was posted at central garages on Tuesday.
' This is the latest move, and a distinctly different approach to the problem of increasing staff shortages which now :total some 5,000.
.• Last • week, when London Transport . • . were told officially that workers had
rejected their bonus scheme, they warned that services might' have to be cut. They ` also said that if busmen did not agree -to one-man. operations, at .least one service might be handed over to private
operators. • .
When Mr.A: Townsend; -of the Transport and •Genefal Workers' Union„-asked about the prospects-of a :direct pay rise as opposed to bonus schemes;"he-redeivcd-a blunt " No "in reply: 7
INQUIRY TO St/MENDER LICENCES?
IF a bus operator has to state a case before the Traffic Commissioners when he wants to inaugurate a service, a similar procedure should be enforced when he proposes to hand in' a licence. This suggestion' has been sent to the Ministry of Transport by Lindsey County Council, who are alarmed that country bus services can be relinquished without a public inquiry.
Meeting in Lincoln, this week, the council was told that when the Lincolnshire Road Car Co.; Ltd., surrendered their Louth-Horricastle stage licence, about five or six villages would have no public transport. He suggested that if a company decided to give up a non-paying service, the Commissioners should order thorn to surrender a profitable .one, too. In this way, another -operator might be persuaded to take over both without fear of making a loss on the unrcmunerative service.
NEW AIR SERVO INTRODUCED
A NEW air-servo unit known as the Airpak, -has been introduced by Clayton
Dewandre Co., Ltd. A particular advantage of the system, in addition to its .compactness, is that the compressor and servo are completely interchangeable With a matching exhauster, and 1-1ydrovaa Unit, so that similar vehicles : may ,have air or vacuum braking without ,extensive modification. ..
Power for the Airpak is derived from a new single-cylindered compressor into which is built the unloader mechanism. The servo unit has an :integral air reservOir, 'and the power piston is connected directly to the hydraulic cylinder which supplies the wheel cylinders. In the event of air failure, the braking system acts as a normal unassisted hydraulic system.
A full description of this new servo layout will be published in next week's issue.