Is the New Haulage Scheme Really Voluntary?
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SEEING that membership of the new Government Haulage Scheme was voluntary, could the Parliamentary Secretary to the M.O.W:T. give an assurance that adequate operational facilities and reasonable supplies were afforded to those operators who chose not to join, and that no indirect measures were taken to jeopardize their respective businesses was a question put by Major Lyons in the H'ouse of Commons, last week.
• In reply, Mr. Noel-Baker said that the pnrpose of the scheme is to secure the greatest practicable economy in the nse and mileage of haulage vehicles. With this in view, the Government intends that all long-distance traffic shall be carried in vehicles working under the scheme. Hauliers who take. part are guaranteed substantial rights,
in return for their acceptance of certain obligations. It would be wholly inconsistent with the object to • assure hauliers, who decline to take part, that they will, nevertheless, receive facilities and suppffes fa.r carrying long-distance traffic outside the scheme, Major Lyons: If this is, in fact, a voluntary scheme for the -industry, it really seems all nonsense to say to those operators. why do not join the bureaucracy, that by threatening to withdraw supplies they will be forced out of business. They have been given an option, and now compulsion is -brought in by threat of extinction? .
In reply, Mr. Noel-Baker reminded the questioner that the necessity of saving rubber and petrol and, therefore, of curtailing road Mileage, is 'imperative.
SUPPORT FOR PLAN TO HIRE OUT C.D. AMBULANCE DRIVERS THE proposal of Liverpool Civil Defence Committee, referred to in our issue dated March 12, to loan fulltime ambulance drivers, during their period of duty, to suitable firms, at trade ,union rates has received qualified approval from the Ministry of Health. Liverpool suggested that the proceeds from such a scheme should be divided, half to go to the National Exchequer (which reimburses local authorities for all wages of civil-defence workers) and the remainder for improvement of amenities for the personnel at the depots.
The Ministry of Health has given its approval, but makes a condition that all proceeds must be credited to the National Exchequer.
10 YEARS' PROFIT FROM JOINT BUS WORKING IN. YORKSHIRE SINCE it was formed 10 years ago, the joint local bus undertaking established by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., and Keighley Corporation under the title of KeighleyWest Yorkshire Service, Ltd., has made profits totalling £271,024. Deduction of income tax has left a clear profit of £177,954, half of which h-as gone to the corporation.
These facts were mentioned by Alderman P. M. Cryer, chairman of the corporation's finance committee. He also stated that from the KeighleyBradford route, which is outside the Keighley-West Yorkshire Service operations, the corporation had received £49,341 (hiring the 10 years.
Referring to taxation paid I3y the joint undertaking, Alderman Cryer said that last year's income tax amounted to £18,770, and the excess profit tax absorbed £12,746.
EMPTY YOUR FILES AND DRAWERS FOR SALVAGE
HOW frequently it is, when visiting a. business _man, that upon his opening a drawer, one sees it stuffed with old and probably valueless documents, often covering a periqd of years. why not send all but the most recent to salvage? Thus he can help in the production of munitions and the saving of ships.
£10 FINE ON BUS DRIVER FOR ABSENTEEISM "
THE worst case of absenteeism I that has come -to our notice," commented counsel at Blackburn, last week, whea a Ribble Motor Services driver was fined £10 for absenting him, self from duty. Counsel said that the driver was absent on79 days between July and March. Defendant attributed his absence to illness.
PETROL USED FOR WASHING ARMY VEHICLES?
arequest by Mr. De la Bere that
e should issue instructions to stop the practice, " which is at present in force in some of the mechanized transport units of the Army throughout the country of washing motor lorries with petrol, ' Sir James Grigg, the Secretary of State for War, stated, in the }rouse of Commons last week, that units were strictly forbidden to use petrol for this purpose. If Mr. De la Bere would send him particulars of any cases be would have them investigated.
DAVID BROWN PRESENTATION TO MR. F. W. ROWE AT the Penistone works of David Brown and Sons (Huddersfield), Ltd., on March 30, the managing director, Mr. David Brown, presented, to Mr. Francis W. Rowe a cheque for £500 to mark the goodwill of the company on Mr. Rowe relinquishing his position is general manager of the Penistone works. Mr. Rowe has become managing director of Kryn and Lahy (1928), Ltd., of Letchworth, following nearly 20 years with the David Brown organization.