We cannot afford not to afford training'
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Having read your report of Mr Flight's attack on the RTITB at the Coach Operators' Conference in Brighton (CM April 28), I feel I must take up the cudgels in defence of the Training Board. While I would be the last to say that the RTITB is by any means perfect, this sort of carping criticism reported by you is obviously meant to be destructive and can only serve to harm the relationship built by the many companies, institutes and individuals with the members and staff of the RTITB.
Although I have no means of knowing whether my own case is typical I suspect that I have not been singled out for special treatment (though I must admit that our company is not solely concerned purely with coach operation) but the sound advice and help we have received from the Board has been highly satisfactory.
On the Institute side of the scene the staff of the Board have always been willing to give talks and papers at our meetings, and have used their influence in arranging courses of instruction both for day release and evening classes at our local schools and technical colleges I agree with Mr Flight that "on the sob" training is essential but I submit that there is a lot that can be achieved "off the job" and as for the statement "we can't afford it," I would again submit that we cannot afford not to afford it. (Incidentally we do receive part of our levy back in the form of Block Grantfor "on thejob" training.) With reference to the financial aspect of the issue, I also agree that initially the RTITB ran into trouble, but I believe that few will disagree that the starting up of any new venture from scratch can be a costly operation, and inevitably mistakes are made. I am sure that all members of our industry will welcome the phasing out of the levy and grant system, as I believe that much of the opposition to the RTITB at the outset was brought about by the fact that we paid our money and then had to earn it back.
I do not direct these observations per sonally at Mr Flight butte all parties concerned with the -future of transport, as I am convinced that by goodwill and co-operation between the industry, the institutes and the RTITB the standard of training and qualifications in the field of transport can elevate us all to a level on a par with other professions.
PETER A. BARTON, Director Rarton Transport Ltd; Immediate past chairman, Institute of Traffic Administration.