S.M.M.T. President on Vital Costs
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A DDRESSING the Gear ManufacrAturers' Association last Tuesday, the president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mr. F. I. Connolly, said that the standard of living here would be materially affected by the suceess or failure of the motor industry's efforts to obtain a substantial share of overseas trade, and it would have to sell within a framework of competitive trading.
He did not believe that we could support 50,000,000 people at a high standard of living unless export prices could be lowered in relation to world prices.
There seemed to be no realization in official quarters that growing Government expense was a load that industry would not'be able to carry while competing in the world's markets.
As regards the Iron and Steel Bill, he believed this to be a political measure, whereas its only possible justification could be an economic one. It was evidence of wrong priorities. He was sure that we could not afford to put questions of control and organization before costs.
UPGRADING ORDER COMING
THE Road Haulage Wages Council
has"asked the Minister of Labour to make an Order changing certain localities from Grade 2 to Grade 1 for the purposes of road haulage workers' wages. With one exception, the localities concerned are those set out in R.H. (29).
The Wages Council has also decided to give notice of its intention to submit to the Minister proposals for upgrading other localities. Employers will be notified of these proposals and 14 days will be allowed in which to make representations.
TRAINING IN INDUSTRY
THE sixth successive year of lectures, films and discussion groups directed towards improving the knowledge of staff and foremen in the engineering industry, and in the heavy commercial-vehicle industry in particular, has just been completed at the Basingstoke works of Transport Equipment (Thornycroft), Ltd.
Works administration, leadership, production methods and their application, works costing and accountancy, employer-employee relationship, suppliers' production problems, and the national and industrial economic position were among the subjects dealt with.
S.M.T. SALE CONFIRMED
A RESOLUTION confirming the sale of the passenger road transport undertakings of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., and subsidiaries to the British Transport Commission, for £20,497,581, was carried at an extraordinary general meeting of the ordinary stockholders in Edinburgh, on April 8. Stockholders also gave authority for the formation of the S.M.T. Sales and
Service Co., Ltd. '