Bird's Eye
Page 54
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
view
I HAVE attended quite a lot of conferences in my time, but I have never seen a president get such a tremendous standing ovation from his members as did K. C. Turner at the close of the first national Traders Road Transport Association conference, reported on page 56.
Without wishing to sound trite, I can only say he thoroughly deserved it. I even know of two transport editors who joined in the applause (led by deputy president Sidney Lamborn)—and that really is praise from Caesar. Journalists rarely applaud anything!
How Often?
NOW'following the resounding success of the first conference, the T.R.T.A. has to make up its mind as to whether it will hold its future conferences every year or every other year.
There is, I know, a certain divergence of opinion, high up, about the advisability of annual conferences. Personally I—and quite a few delegates I spoke to—would be very disappointed if this did not become an annual " must ".
Fifty Not Out
WORK stopped very suddenly at Carrimore's North " Finchley factory recently, so I hear. But this was not an industrial dispute—this was an occasion. The occasion was the celebration of 50 years'. service with the firm of its works superintendent, Charlie Ward. Mr. Ward was presented with a gold watch and a book containing an illuminated address and the signatures of all his colleagues.
Charlie, who started work as an apprentice at five shillings a week, has been with Carrimore's since its inception. Asked when he thought he might retire, he answered a question with a question: "When you have got a really interesting job what is there to retire for?"
Emergency !
SOME indication of how trying can be the lot of the motorway police patrolman was gained recently by Andrew Seacombe, who handles public relations for Atkinson Vehicles Ltd., Preston.
Mr. Seacombe was surpervising the taking of photographs of an Atkinson motorway salt-spreader near the. end of the new M6 extension at Bamber Bridge. This particular point was chosen so that one of the big motorway signs— in this case clearly indicating the route to Lancaster— would appear in the picture.
A car travelling in the direction of Lancaster pulled over onto the hard shoulder just beneath the sign. A patrolman went over to find out what the " emergency " was. The driver inquired the way to Lancaster!
Doubtful Privilege
I MENTIONED on September 30 that it is rumoured that I the Metropolitan Licensing Authority's office, now in Soho Square, is to move out to the suburbs as part of the Government's " de-centralization " scheme. This, I hear, is causing some Concern to the barristers and solicitors who regularly practise in the courts.
Some propose to write to tre L.A., Mr. D. I. R. Muir, in strong terms about the matter because they feel that, unlike all the other L.A.'s who hold courts in various towns within their areas, Mr. Muir should sit in the heart of the metropolis, convenient to the City and the Temple. Travelling to hearings in the suburbs would mean that clients—applicants and objectors—would have to pay travelling expenses for the doubtful pleasure.
An Objection
IF the Met, court has to move, there is bound to be an I " objection " from one licensee—Mr. Alf Dainty—who will no doubt plead that if a change of base is granted, "facilities will be in excess of the demand for his services "! Alf is the licensee of the pub behind the court• room—known as Courtroom No. 3!