NEWS IN BRIEF
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Edinburgh Deficit: Edinburgh Corporation transport department had a deficit of £63,727 in the year ended May 28 last, althoughthe revenue at £4,657,633 showed an increase of £93,844. Reporting on the figures, CM, John Scott, chairman of the transport committee, saw two major problems ahead— higher wages and the increasing problem of maintaining peak-period traffic flow. Some pruning of off-peak services must_ be accepted, he said, and this might become severe.
Safe Driving Awards: Liverpool Corporation transport drivers were presented with safe driving awards last week for periods varying from II to 30 years; three drivers received 30-year awards. In all, 953 Corporation drivers gained awards for 1963. including 913 regular bus drivers, presented by the Road Operators' Safety Council.
Overtime Bans Off: The first crack in the overtime ban by bus workers in the west of Scotland came last week when 120 drivers and conductors at Kylsyth decided to lift the ban and also to cancel their token strike called for last Saturday. The overtime ban and work to rule operated by the 6,000 busmen of Glasgow's municipal buses for the past few weeks are likely to be withdrawn after a recommendation to this effect last week by the Glasgow district committee of the T.G.W.U. The committee hopes that another and stronger form of industrial protest action may follow.
Salford Surplus: Although Salford City Transport carried fewer passengers over less miles in the year ended March 31 last compared with 1963, gross receipts of the undertaking were the greatest in its history— £1.890,066 (E1,749.507 in 1963). Net surplus was £86,602 (£831).
East Kent Profit Up: Net profit of the East Kent Road Car Co. Ltd. for the year ended September 30 last at £170,073 was £17,887 more than in the previous year. Traffic and other receipts topped the £2!m. mark and were £176,056 up on 1963.
Equal Pay Call: Scotland's 6,000 bus company conductresses are seeking to raise their pay to the level of conductors. The Transport and General Workers' Union has been asked to approach the Scottish Bus Group for talks. The present differential is 54d. per hour—about El per week.
Wilts and Dorset Successes: Two hundred and forty eight drivers and conductors from the Salisbury, Amesbury and Ringwood depots of Wilts and Dorset Motor Services Ltd. were presented with awards at Salisbury recently in the competition sponsored by the Road Operators' Safety Council. Drivers A. Dismore. 3. E. Noke and W. E. Toms received the bronze bar for 26-29 years' safe driving, and two drivers the 25-year brooch, 10 the 21-24 years' star bar and five the 20-year brooch.