Bird's Eye
Page 66
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v iew BY THE HAWK
Rest Period
QUOTE by Barbara Castle in Glasgow to a trade union deputation last week: "I work 17 hours a day and in a full week have only six hours with my husband. If you want any more, I will hand in my cards."
And the moment these words were printed (in every national paper), my phone echoed a saga of suggestions. Sample: "Quick, let's ask her for more!" But my favourite was:—
"Let's have legislation to ensure that she doesn't have to work such excessive hours. I suggest a rest period of 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Down to Earth
SANDRA KEELING was a flight stewardess with British Midland Airways; then with BOAC. Now she's said goodbye to Super VC 10s—and joined her brothers Michael, Peter and Gordon in the removals, shipping and general transport business, Frank Porter Ltd., of London Road, Derby. For the Keeling family—and that, of course, includes Sandra—decided that a girl equipped to handle planeloads of passengers could easily cope with boardrooms of customers. So she's been appointed company representative with the specific task of maintaining and improving customer relations and developing new business. And if you glance at my picture (if you haven't already done so), you must agree that Sandra has SA . that's Sales AppeaL
Not Under Starter's Orders
DRO-MARKETEERS in the UK should not rush their fences.
A report last month on the progress of discussions between existing members reveals that "there is little point at this stage in analysing the respective positions on specific points, until such time as a decision is taken on a starting point". And the Common Market celebrated the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Rome Treaty only last month! Moral to transport operators: keep the Continental wheels turning, commercial-wise, even if the legislators get bogged down.
Incentives
'TAXATION has never been a best seller, but SET must be well -11in the running as the most unpopular tax to date. Transport operators, along with other service industries, can hardly be expected to go to it with renewed incentive having been told that they are really only second-class citizens.
And lest that reaction to SET be considered a sectional viewpoint they now have the support of Charles Clore in the annual report of his multi-million-pound group.
Urging early repeal of the tax, which he says is "based on a serious misconception", he comments: "We do not require a tax to remind us that we must not employ more than necessary in the retail trades. Still less would we regard it as proper to increase our manufacturing labour forces in order to secure a 'premium'."
Too Numerous to Mention
THAT old standby of speakers about the famous figures in the company being "too numerous to mention" really was true last week when a retirement luncheon was given at Harrogate for Philip Halliwell, sales director of Tillotson Commercial Motors Ltd. I counted seven chairmen and nine managing directors of companies well-known in the road transport field, quite apart from principals, former chairmen, deputy chairmen and former managing directors. J. E. Hanson, TCM chairman, reckoned that in his 48+ years with Tillotson Mr. Halliwell had probably been responsible for the sale of a record number of commercial vehicles.
By Instalments
SIR William Black, ACV chairman, recalled that in earlier days credit was not so easily obtained as at the present time. A deal had finally been agreed, he said, between a North Country operator and a local agent when the former asked what terms could be offered.
"One half afore Ah touch it, and t'other half afore thou touches it," was the prompt reply.
Two who well remember the harder days of the industry are John Harper senior, who started Used Units Ltd. in 1933, and C. F. Calvert, AEC regional manager at Leeds. Both were working with Mr. Halliwell at Tillotson in 1919 and were at the Harrogate luncheon to wish him well. Representation at the function from North of the Border included a contingent all the way from Aberdeenshire.
Guess Who?
SPOT a familiar transport name among the men behind the new commercial TV companies? On the board of David Frost's London Television consortium is—Leyland Motor Corporation chairman Sir Donald Stokes.
Stimulating
BACK home after a three-month world tour to 35 centres is Dennis Bros. deputy chairman Ron Bamfield. Idea was to stimulate the firm's overseas agents, appoint new agents and meet customers. And to keep to his tight schedule, he travellec 40,000 miles in 33 different aircraft and one Russian-built hirec car over the Khyber Pass to Pakistan when snow blocked aircraft No. 34. A highlight of his tour: a trip to Malacca (Malaya) to see it two frontline fire engines, both in daily service-1923 and 193( Dennis models.