MR. R. W. SMILE WRITES TO THE "DAILY MIRROR"
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I24 its issue for March 4, the "Daily Mirror" made a strange statement to the effect that the transport industry, which was in such a state that it allowed England to freeze, will obviously take a mighty lot of pulling together.
Following this, Mr, R. W. Sewill, director of the R.H.A., sent a letter, which contained several pertinlit points, to the Editor of that paper. He said the Editor must be well aware that members of the Government, including the Prime Minister, had recently paid tribute to the work done by the transport industry duringthe fuel crisis.
Road hauliers, in common with other. providers of transport, had had to contend with many major difficulties during the past few years. Replacement vehicles and spare parts had been almost impossible to obtain, and the industry had had to depend largely upon an ageing fleet.
Road surfaces had deteriorated, and during the past few weeks the roads had been covered with snow and ice, and, in many cases, had been impassable.
Apart from normal arrangements for the carriage of coal, the R.F-1.A, had been able to place at the Government's disposal about 500 vehicles, which have been shifting 10,000 tons of coal a day during the past six months from open-cast sites in the Midlands.
He finally asked how many housewives had been deprived of milk during the crisis, and pointed out that 4,000,000 gallons had to be collected daily by road transport from farms and along farm roads.
BOOKING AGENTS AGAINST NATIONALIZATION
PiA T a meeting of protest against the
nationalization of transport, held by the Booking Agents' Association in London last week, Mr. F., J. Speight, chairman of the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association, outlined the proposals of the Transport Bill, and stressed the dangers to booking agents.
If the Government operated substantial road passenger services, it was not likely that agents would be allowed to carry on their businesses as at present, Mr. Speight declared. He called upon those at the meeting to do everything possible to fight the Government, and to awaken the consciousness of the public to what might be forthcoming. •
A resolution expressing opposition to nationalization was then passed unanimously and conveyed to the Minister.
JOINT BOARD TO FIN MANAGERS' SALARIES? ,
TilE Association of Municipal Transport Managers has approached South Shields Corporation regarding the formation of a Joint Salaries Board to deal with transport managers' salaries. The corporation has replied that it -is not in favour of Such a board. in view of the discussions which are taking place between the Association of Municipal Corporations and representatives of associations of other local authorities, regarding the salaries of chief officers of local authorities.