Another 5s. for Haulage Workers
Page 24
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AFTER a five-hour discussion lasting until 7.30 p.m., the Road Haulage Wages Council decided in favour of an increase of 5s. a week in the basic wages of road haulage workers. It is understood that no conclusion was reached on the raising of certain towns to Grade 1.
At about the same time, R.H. (40) was issued. This provides that as from to-day (April 18), or from the beginning. of the next pay period after to-day, drivers of vehicles over 15 tons shall be paid 137s. a week in the London ,a-ea. 132s. in Grade 1 areas and 128s. in Grade 2 areas (an increase of 4s. on the rates for drivers of 12-15ton vehicles).
The night-duty rate is raised from 4d. to 6d. an hour and the subsistence allowance becomes 12s, 6d. a night. Overtime pavo,ent now bef,ins at 2.3p p.m. on Saturdays. For the first six hours' overtime in any week, exclusive of Sunday, the rate is time-add-aquarter, and time-and-a-half thereafter.
The proposal for a further increase of 5s. will eventually be announced in R.H. (41).
£10,556 AWARD FC:1 SPILLER'S
A DISPUTE over compensation payable to Messrs. Spiller's Transport Services, Southville, Bristol, was settled by the Transport Arbitration Tribunal, last week, which fixed an award of £10,556. The hearing was reported in the issue dated March 14.
When negotiations for the acquisition of Messrs. Spiller's commenced, the Road Haulage Executive offered £1,841 to the proprietors, who made a claim for £16,183.
Mr. C. E. Montgomery White, Q.C., president, said that the compensation payable for the vehicles and other physical assets was £296. All the vehicles were involved in hire-purchase agreements. The average net profits of the firm for 1946-48 were £4,104 per annum and the Tribunal considered 21. to be a fair multiplier.
The Tribunal could not agree with the applicants that 1947, because of the unusually severe winter, should be excluded in the computation of average profits. The Executive was ordered to pay costs but no order for payment was to be drawn up until the R.H.E. had intimated a desire to appeal.
N.Z. STOPS IMPORTS
EXCEPT in special circumstances, no more licences will be granted this year by the New Zealand Government for the import of assembled British lorries of 30 cwt. and under, and assembled vans, including utilities. Shipments by listed vessels leaving Britain up to April 30 will be admitted.
After the importer's requirements have been examined, the Board of Trade will determine licences for other types of vehicle.
New Zealand was, last year, second in the list of Britain's overseas customers. Australia, which has already restricted imports, was the biggest.