Operating Aspects of Passenger Transport
Page 24
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ALL BUS DRIVERS NOW RESERVED
LAST week it was announced by the Ministry of Labour that all men with current permits or licences to drive public-service vehicles (busts or
• coaches), who are recognized as being available to act as drivers as and when required, are now placed in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations. Prior to this announcement, coach and bus drivers were reserved at the age of 18 'years from general service and at 25 years from service in a trade capacity.
Relief and reserve drivers of trolleybuses will be reserved at 25 years, the age applying to regular drivers of these vehicles.
GLASGOW BUS EMPLOYEES REDEEM THEMSELVES
SQIR ANDREW DUNCAN, Minister Of who was in Glasgow' last week during an ." alert" air-raid period, visited the Lord Provost, Mr, P. J. •Dollan, and heard details of the transport men's dispute regarding running during warnings. The Premier, stated Mr. Dollan, on January 3, had heard with surprise of the Glasgow men's decision, and asked Sir Andrew to get information regarding it from the Lord Provost.
Mr. Dollati's message to Mr. Churchill was that the transport employees had redeemed themselves by their conduct on January 2. He assured the Premier that all ranks would co-operate with the corporation and the Government in keeping in operation
all vital services necessary. to ensure victory. He regarded the men' S ballot simply as a gesture—one which had been swept aside by a wave of public' opinion so strong that no dissenters could stand against it.
No disciplinary action has been taken, it is understood, against municipal bus and tram drivers and conductors who stopped their vehicles during the " alert " warning on January 2. Mr. R. Fraser Smith, general manager of the transport department, said that he was gratified by the response of the men. Reports showed that over 90 per cent, of the staff had carried on.
An official of the local branch of the Transport and General Workers' Union stated -that there was nothing new in the situation,
More than 99 per cent, of the corporation transport employees carried on during an " alert " on, January 4. All the bus drivers and conductors remained at their posts.
PLYMOUTH'S BUS SURPLUS RISES
AN abstract of accounts prepared by Plymouth's city treasurer for the year ended March 31, 1940, reveals that the transport undertaking showed an increased gross surplus of £118,210 for buses, compared with £104,696 in the previous 12 months. Passenger receipts were £432,848. Tramway passenger receipts totalled £14,885, and the expenditure on this branch of the undertaking .:30,990) . exceeded the income by £839. TEES-SIDEBOARD COMES OUT ON TOP ' IT was reported at a meeting of Eston Urban Council that the-Tees-side Railless Traction Board, with which the council is associated, is now running solvent. The Board had passed through trying times by reason of limited services. It was now carrying about 3,500,000 passengers a year. Councillor McPartlan. Chairman, • said that the Board had tried unsuccessfully to hire extra buses from other authorities, and was still awaiting delivery of two double-deck buses and a trolleybus ordered last February.
WAR'S EFFECT ON RUNNING
IT was recently reported to Preston Town Council that in September the running expenses of buses increased by 3d. per bus mile, The chairman of the transport committee said that money could be taken from reserve to meet lower fares receipts, but it would not be good.business, because after the war money would be required for improving the transport undertaking and building a central bus station.
BLACKBURN'S BUS SURPLUS
JUST issued the annual abstract of accounts of Blackburn Corporation 'shows a net profit of £4,910 on the town's bus services in respect of the municipal year ended March 31, 1940.