Cannibal in the B.T.0
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Bird's Eye View By The Hawk
APRAYING MANTIS—that charming locust-like insect whose female species, after mating, devours the male—is enjoying itself in the British Transport Commission. Its quarry is British Railways.
The railways have, during the past year, fought Wallace Arnold CTours), Ltd., tooth and nail, both in the traffic courts and on appeal. In fact, the railways are probably Wallace Arnold's greatest competitors in the north. So I chuckled to myself when I read in a newspaper an advertisement by the B.T.C.-owned concern of Dean and Dawson. Ltd., inviting the public to book for 1958 on Wallace Arnold's British an! Continental tours.
Co-operation
I READ in The Times that British Road Services were
" exploring the scope" for improved co-operation between road and rail, and I was reminded of an unconfirmed story of how the canal branch of the British Transport Commission wrested a contract for mineral haulage from the railways.
The journey by inland waterway involved feeder services by road. Inland Waterways sub-contracted the road transport part of the business not to B.R.S., but to an up-and-coming privateenterprise haulier who was able, without the Commission's aid. to beat the railways at their own game.
The Wrong Hog
WHEN I was a boy a "road hog" was one who drove VT furiously and put the fear of death into everyone. I had thought the term had gone out of use, which was why I was puzzled by a new poster put out by the Road Operators' Safety Council. In it a road hog is brandedas one who crawls in the middle of the road and refuses to allow anyone to overtake. It seems that the expression has reversed its meaning and the-point of the poster will be completely lost on anyone whose memory goes back to the 'twenties.
,5-urprise in Store QEVERALlauliers appear not to have heard of Section 9011 Li of the Transport Act, 1953. They will be surprised if they are called before the Licensing Authority to show why their licences should riot be susffended or revoked. I shall be rather surprised if they are not.
Stay-at-homes
IN view of the close link between the Prosperity of the film and bus industries, the latest statistics on cinema-going make depressing reading. The number of admissions to cinemas in the third quarter of last year was nearly 20 per cent. lower than in the corresponding peridd of 1956, and gross box-office takings declined by nearly 17 per cent. Moreover, between the two periods, 206 cinemas were closed, reducing the number to 4.171.
The demon television is, of course, responsible for this change in entertainment habits. The greatest declines in cinema-going occurred in the three areas where independent television is strongest. Admissions in London fell by 23 per cent., in Birmingham by 23,2 per cent. and in Manchester by 8.8 per cent.
How wise R.E.T. were to enter commercial television.
A Good Start
I WAS discussing the subject of film-going the other day with 1 the general manager of a large bus company.
" The last film I saw was," I said, The Lady and the Tramp.' I went to see it because I am devoted to dogs and addicted to Walt Disney."
"The last picture I saw was four years ago," he replied. " I remember the occasion well. My wife had said You never take me out ': so I took her to the pictures. It was the dav I paid £90 for a television set."
Sweet Sorrow
By the time Mr. Frank Coyle, national passenger group .1-; secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, retires next month, he is likely to be laden with gifts in cash and kind. The first of what I believe will be a series of presentations—although Mr. Coyle himself is rclutant to talk about it—was made at Hull last week.
One may disagree with Mr. Coyle, but it is impossible to dislike him. I hope he will spend many pleasant hours with the tankard that he collected at Hull.
Free for All
cOR the benefit of operators and others who may have mis
taken ideas about selective publicity, I should like to point out that if a news item is released to one newspaper. others are entitled to follow it up. The matter has been made public and the author of the item has no further control over its dissemination.
mention the subject because art operator last week forbade The CrImmerciol Motor to comment on a report that he had issued to the local Press. He now knows better.
Smoke Got in Their Eyes
ADEPUTATION of road transport operators waited on a member of the Government. The leader bent his histrionic skill to a carefully prepared statement, which brought lumps to the throats of his colleagues.
The M.O.G. gazed around the room. He drew a cigar from his pocket, surveyed it in plan and elevation, and sniffed it. He then carefully snipped the end and fumbled in his pockets with increasing anguish.
"Has anybody got a match?" he asked.