Foot and Mouth Signs Need Improving
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L'`OOT and mouth disease was one of
the, main topics of discussion at last Friday's meeting of the livestock functional group of the Road Haulage Association. There were strong demands for the improvement of signs in affected areas. It was felt that the design of signs should be standardized, that they should be clearer, be placed well in advance of the affected area and show possible diversions of route. The responsibility for signposting appears to be diverse and several authorities may have to be approached. It was also proposed that motorways should be placed on the same footing as railways, and should be excluded from prohibitions on movements of cattle within affected areas. It was thought that similar latitude might also be given to trunk roads on the edge of affected areas. The group will hold -their next meeting on January 29.
NEWPORT SHELVE EXTRA-PAY PLAN
APLAN to pay bus crews higher wages than those laid down by national agreements. was shelved last week by. the Newport Transport Committee. This was because of pending national pay claims,
which will affect the whole industry. •
The move to pay higher wages was made in an effort to attract more staff and overcome the present acute shortage. Mr. R. Hawkins, general manager of the undertaking, has been instructed to ask the National Joint Industrial Council whether bus drivers may be appointed directly, without serving a term as conductors.
The question of running one-man bilscs on two routes will be explored by the 'committee, who have been told that it would cost £400 per, bus to modify single deckers for one man working. Discussions will also take place with the trade unions concerning the ban on standing passengers during specified nonpeak periods.
' MAJOR THREAT" TO C LICENSEES
THE" massive rail problem" was described as a major threat to C-licence operators by Mr. H. R. Featherstone, assistant national secretary of the Traders' Road Transport Association, in Birmingham on Monday. Some authorities, he said, regarded restrictions on road vehicles as a means of solving the problem. Transfers of traffic between road -and rail, should be decided by competition, not compulsion, When speaking of the facilities provided by the MI, Mr. Featherstone said that they would probably increase the acute congestion in Birmingham. The pink-zone experiment in London was causing little trouble to goods-vehicle operators, he added.