BIRD'S EYE
Page 46
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VIEW By the Hawk Pats on the Back My good friend, Ernest
Popplewell, opening last week's debate on the Select Committee's report on London Transport in the House of Commons, stated the obvious. According to Hansard he said this: "From the report, I have to bring forcibly before the House the fact, which is fairly well known by most Londoners, that London Transport is definitely in trouble." He went on to mention the causes—congestion, staff shortages, and so on.
If London Transport is in trouble, what about the longsuffering public? I could not find many words of sympathy for them in the 54-odd pages it took Hansard to report the proceedings. But there were pats on the back for Sir Alec Valentine, the immediate past-chairman of the Board, and his deputy, Mr. A. H. Grainger, and also for Mr. W. G. Fiske, leader of the Greater London Authority, and Mr. G. D. Squibb, president of the Transport Tribunal. Mr. Squibb apparently enlightened the Committee on certain points "that are extremely interesting" about the relationship of the Tribunal to London Transport.
Out at BEA's cargo handling depot at London Airport, getting information for this week's special air freight issue, one of my colleagues picked up a new expression. Speaking to one of these handlebar-moustached air types, our man asked at which time during the small hours the freight planes left. "They leave at Oh-God-0-0 hours" came the reply. New Expression
Cu m mins Enterprise The Cummins organization were hosts at a highly convivial dinner in London last week, an occasion memorable for much serious talk as well as the customary badinage.
I was interested to learn from Mr. W. D. Blizzard, international sales and service director of Cummins Engine Co. (Inc.), that ex-railway shopmen from Darlington workshops of BR are proving valuable recruits to the firm. The manufacturing tolerances applied in such contrasting engineering disciplines not unnaturally caused a little difficulty.
Local authorities in the area, I gather, spared no pains to persuade Cummins to settle there and they are continuing to provide every possible help.
Spreading the Word "These managers are ready to give you friendly advice on your freightage problems and will provide you with a prompt, comprehensive and expert service. I commend these managers tq you."
That heartwarming quote by the managing director of Northern Ireland Carriers comes from a new booklet designed to attract the attention of ttansport users in Ulster. This it does most effectively with words and pictures and not only gives a clear idea of the services offered but also provides an almost personal introduction to all the key people who make NIC tick operationally.
No Kidding One day last week fog
reduced visibility in Manchester to five yards and cars, abandoned on main roads, added to the chaos for the heavies struggling to get through. Midst this confusion. AA night breakdown man Stan Hollows came upon an orderly line of 40 individuals proceeding along Stretford Road, just a mile short of the city centre. It appears they were just a mile away from their destination—All Saints.
Wise motorists? No. They were starlings—walking in line astern.
Children and adults If you are getting eye strain
reading all the reports appearing recently on transport, spare a thought for the lot of the citizens in far-away Peru. Last July President Belaunde, formerly an architect, gave his 10 m. citizens some homework by way_of an 800-page presidential address.
For those who have not got that far yet I like this extract—" A road, like childhood, has the virtue of getting stronger and growing. That's the difference from a railway, which is born an adult."
I think the President has got something there!
Radio Car Upon my desk this week arrived a plain box marked "Signal Flare Red". Who On earth would want to send me a signal flare, and for what purpose? Perhaps to call for help if I ever broke down in the Outer Hebrides? It turned out to be a faithful replica of a Ford Mustang, into which was built a transistor radio. It was a present from Ford, of course. "Signal Flare Red"? Oh yes, that was the colour.
Achievement What must be a unique
achievement was celebrated last week at the new Epping 'offices of Flexible Lamps Ltd.—manufacturers of the Rubbolite series of lamps and reflectors. They began in 1925 and now are run by Iris and Grace Flewitt, and it was to celebrate 40 years in business that, last Friday, portraits of these two ladies were unveiled by the chairman of the company, Mr. R. W. McCrone.