The Motor Coach Assisted by the Railway Troubles.
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HE RAILWAY stringency brought aboutby fuel shortage must naturally mean monetary loss to the nation, 5ut it has vastly helped the motor coach movement, the prospects for which, because of the growth of competition, coupled with the check in the circulation of money which set in in the autumn and has shown a strong tendency to prevail throughout a large portion of the current year, had not seemed by any means so bright as they were last year.
The slump in industry generally has had the effect of -making many a coach owner hold his hand in the purchase of new vehicles, and, in the long run, only good will result, because, with a rush of newcomers into the movement or an unwonted increase in the number of vehicles catering for the business that offers, supply would certainly have overrun demand. We look to an enormous increase in motor coach traffic, but we think the increase will be gradual, because the public is slow to change its habits. It has. learned all about the idiosyncrasies of railway travel, and knows how to manipulate the facilities provided by the railway companies so as to simplify the transference of a household to a holiday resort, and it has yet to be instructed that the motor coach proprietor is able to provide-almost equal facilities.'
The collection and delivery of adequate holiday luggage has been one of the necessary facilities, and this is now being provided by the road companies. The former restrictions on the quantity of luggage that could be taken by a coach passenger have gone, and now luggage is collected beforehand and is delivered at the destination of the holiday-maker with expedition andcertainty. As this factis better realized, the use of the motor coach for reaching the seaside will become increasingly popular. The quastion of catering for meals en route isjust as easy by road as by rail, but it necessitates stopping for a brief period, although even this is regarded as affording a welcome break in the journey.
The enormous developments in this holiday traffic (quite in addition to that of the day trip); which began at Whitsuntide, show that every large centre will gradually he provided with a road service, which must make serious inroads into the business of the railway companies; at least, for distances that can be compa•ssed in a day by road, say, up to 120 Miles.
WHAT the venerable " city fathers," of seaside towns call the touting peat is nothing more or less than the act of acquainting possible motor coach patrons of the service of which owners are offering. It is advertising by ineans of the direct personal appeal. But the Rhyl Urban Council, at their annual licensing meeting, said the practice must cease!
This season the council adopted a new regulation, and forms were sent to all persons requiring licences asking them for certain particulars. The forms were handed round at the licensing meeting.
One worthy elected representative of the township of Rhyl spoke with evident horror of cars being loaded and unloaded at a certain part of the promenade, and one indignant councillor said they might as well say they would allow their beautiful gardens to be used as a loading or unloading place for ears bringing trippers to Rhyl. All of which is so much balderdash. Rhyl is one of several places in North Wales that advertise themselvesein„Lancashire with a view to attracting visitors, and'no place, we venture
to think, would squeal MOV0 were the summer visitors to choose Other, and.quite as pretty, rendezvous. However, the motor owners were called beforeothe worthy gentlemen constituting the council., and were solemnly warned by the chairman about touting. They were also requested to endeavour to preserve a uniform scale of charges. The Motor Trade. Association, it was mentioned, were keen on this point, and contended that if the scale of charges were adhered to, everyone would have the same chance.
Drivers were asked if they wore their badges 30 that the police could see if they were licensed. The wearing a the badges, by the way, is one of the things that tho drivers in North Wales strongly resent, and last season there were several prosecutions because licensed drivers preferred to carry them in their pockets rather than have them 'dangling on their outer jackets, just as if the wearers were bus or cab drivers.
Bonus Systems for Workers.
ONE OF the greatest assets which can be held by any concern employing labour,especially skilled labour, is the genuine interest of the .men in their work. This .asset cannot be included iii any ordinary balance sheet, but it is one which may have a great influence in making the credit side raore than balance the debit. How to foster this interest is often a difficult proposition, particularly if there are persons with Bolahevistic tendencies endeavouring to upset all idea of law, order, and -co-operation between the governing sis.le of a concern and the men. Many co-partnership schemes have been suggested, and a few put into practical operation, but the majority of these have failed ignominiously, chiefly because such schemes find little favour with the unions.
lc would appear, therefore, that the only practical and satisfactory means which exist at present between fixed wages and co-partnership lies in some well-thought-out bonus system. Such a scheme requires thorough investigation before it is put into operation, and if it is based—as must almost invariably be the case—en production, there is always the danger that work will, be scamped in an 4ort to obtain extra pay in the way of bonus without actually giving more valuable service for it.
This necessitates careful supervision of the prodilations through every stage in their manufacture, but aa this supervision should always hold good, whatever wage system is employed, its enforcement is more beneficial than otherwise. A few motor vehicle manufacturers allot a fixed sum of money as bonus for every vehicle produced, each man's weekly wage being augmented by a percentage, which is the same as that borne by the total of the sums allotted as bonus, to the total of the wages bill. Thus, the bonuses are graded according to each man's position in the wages sheet, and general satisfaction is thereby ensured, which would not be the ease if an unskilled worker were: given a bonus equal to that of his skilled comrade.