One-man Buses Needed
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F,EARS of possible redundancy on the part of bus crews are tending to hold up a very necessary move towards increasing the number of vehicles in the class operated by one man.
In some unfortunate instances, the antagonism to such operation has taken the form of the drivers being ordered off such buses by local officials of the union concerned. In one case of a volunteer driver who was a union official, other members even went so far' as to request him to resign from that post.
It is understood that, in some areas, negotiations are being conducted between the union and the transport managers, and it is not too much to hope that the union will take a more sensible view of the matter.
Redundancy is most unlikely to occur in road passenger transport, as for a long period, in many areas, there has been a considerable shortage of both driving and conducting personnel, and, failing a general recession in industry, this is likely to continue.
There are other reasons for encouraging one man operation than in the conserving of labour, important as that may be In these days of heavy and rising costs, it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the transport needs of comparatively sparsely populated areas in which bus services have frequently been operated at a loss. Many companies and municipalities have for long been I in the position of having a large proportion of their fleets occupied in this way.
In certain cases, vehicles have had to be withdrawn or the service frequency reduced, thus causing inconvenience and even hardship to would-be passengers. There are also not wanting hints that economic stringency may force the enlargement of this policy, much as this would be regretted by all concerned.
It is in such circumstances that the one-man bus can play its part and alleviate the position. The union therefore should consider seriously the effect upon an important section of the travelling population of any restrictions upon this method of operation which may be contemplated either locally or nationally.