Wages Up But Labour Still Difficult
Page 45
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
iNCREASES in wages and the cost of I materials caused the operating costs of Blackburn Corporation's buses to risd from 32.51d. per mile in the year ended March, 1957, to 34.47d. in the year to March 31 last.
Mr. J. Harrison, general manager, points out in his annual report that between 1952 and 1957, drivers and conductors received wage increases totalling 49s, a week, labourers and cleaners 44s. 6d. to 45s. 3d. a week, and craftsmen 62s. 4d. a week. Nevertheless, the labour position in the department showed little improvement. Eighty-eight drivers, conductors and conductresses were engaged
during the year and 87 left. , Estimates for the next financial year showed a sound position, provided that operating costs did not rise or passenger traffic decline. Excluding the .inflated traffic caused by the Suez incident and the effects of the influenza epidemic last September, a little more than Inn. passengers were lost last year, compared with 1957. The_actual loss was. 2.96m.
The fleet comprises 108 buses (98 double-deckers and 10, single-deckers); of which 57 are Leyland, 50 Guy and one
[See ." Profit and Loss " this page.]
• CLEARER NUMBERING OF PREMISES SOUGHT
L'OLLGWING complaints from many trade organizations that time, fuel and money are wasted because properties are badly numbered or not -numbered at all, some local authority associations may seek a strengthening -of .the law to ensure that all domestic and other properties are properly numbered. It seents likely that if amending legislation can be obtained, local authorities will require all numbers to' be affixed to boundary gales, So that they can be seen from .the highWay.
SCANIA-VABIS EXPANSION
I N their annual report, Scania-Vabis, Sodertalje, Sweden, state that With their largest truck, the Regent, they secured three-quarters of the Swedish market in the heaviest class of vehicle. Thirteen per cent. more trucks and buses were supplied to the home market than in the previous year.
On the export side, deliveries to
Greece, Norway and certain, countries were raised, but mport restrictions in Argentina and Finland caused a drop.
WALLACE ARNOLD CARRY BULLION
W/HEN they learned that Wallace VV Arnold Tours, Ltd., Leeds, had been carrying bullion for the National Provincial Bank, Ltd., for some time in a private vehicle, British Road Services withdrew an objection to an application for a B licence for the work. Maj. F. S. Eastwood, Yorkshire Licensing Authority, last week granted the licence.