Loads By Appointment' at Docks
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FROM OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
THE loading and unloading of goods "by appointment" at Britain's docksides will be among the major ideas to be discussed by the Transport Minister's new ports advisory panel when it begins work.
The panel, headed by Lord Rochdale, will form the nucleus of the central National Ports Council to be set up by the Government to devise and carry out a national plan for the docks.
Lord Rochdale knows well that the largest number of complaints submitted to his committee which investigated the big docks related to the congestion and delay suffered by road vehicles.
The committee strongly urged port authorities to consider a scheme whereby importers, agents and hauliers would give notice when going to collect or deliver, enabling quayside workers to be available and loss, muddle and delay to be cut to a minimum.
Alternative suggestions which may also be included in the panel's studies include the construction of marshalling depots in producing areas and ports—and the need for the haulage industry to introduce demurrage charges to penalise tardy traders.
One of the factors militating against demurrage charges is the policy of averaging road haulage rates.
The general condition of quays and sheds will probably receive preliminary attention from the panel and the port authorities, and more detailed study later by the National Council. More shed space, better internal roads, less quayside sorting and sampling, the use of more mechanically handled container traffic and the designation of transit areas are among the main requirements.
The Second factor, access roads, has been recognised by the Government as requiring urgent attention. It is likely that tripartite talks will soon open between the Ministry, local councils and port authorities with a view to identifying and eliminating the black spots on classitied roads leading to the major docks,
More off-street parking will probably have to be provided in dock areas and perhaps more " lorry routes" designated.
Legislation will be needed before the National Ports Council can exercise all the functions intended for it. This legislation might take a little while.
That is why the Minister's advisory panel will be named soon, to tackle the aspects which need urgent attention before the Council proper gets to work.
40-hr. week wanted CALIS for a 40-hour week, adequate compensation payments for redundancy, longer holidays, and one-and-a-halfhour overtime rates in place of the present one-and-a-quarter-hour payments, are to be made at the annual conference of the Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association in Perth next week.