Lords Complete Committee Stage Of Disposal Bill
Page 41
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VET another Socialist attempt to place a time limit on the sale of A the parcels and meat-transport organizations of the British Transport Commission failed in the House of Lords on Tuesday. The House took the committee stage of the Transport (Disposal of Road Haulage Property) Bill.
Lord Lucas of Chi!worth moved an amendment to prevent the sale of those sections of the B.T.C. after December 31 next.
He said he was seeking to give the Government an opportunity of showing how sincere they were in their wish to take transport out of politics.
Lord Hurcomb said there could be no argument against leaving the parcels and meat units with the B.T.C. If it was in the national interest that the former railway companies should wholly own Carter Paterson and Pickfords, it was equally in the public interest that those systems should be owned by the nationalized undertaking.
The Earl of Selkirk replied that if the units had to be sold before next December. the prices would be unfavourable. The amendment was rejected.
Another amendment by Lord Lucas also failed. It aimed at depriving the Minister of Transport of his powers to order the reorganization of the securities of a B.T.C. company, and to appoint directors. He described them as " political jiggery pokery." •
The Earl of Selkirk said the powers were permissive and were intended to be used only when a sate was made. They would not be invoked so long as the companies were retained by the B. LC. There was no immediate intention of appointing directors from outside.
Several Government amendments were carried.
NEW AGREEMENT
L-1 A NEW agreement on passenger transport is likely to be made between Bury and Heywood Corporations, Only a few small points remain to be settled.
Greater Safety in Reversing Buses
ASAFETY device for one-man buses has been produced by the engineering department of Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd. When reverse gear is engaged, the reversing light is flashed in the manner of a winking-light indicator and an intermittent note is sounded on a horn at the rear.
The horn can he switched off separately so that it will not sound late at night. The company's one-man buses have been selected for the device as, with no conductor, there is no one to indicate to other traffic when vehicles are reversing at terminals.
• MORE SAFETY RESEARCH
MORE attention should be paid to research into safety matters, state the safety sub-committee of the National Joint Adyisory Council in . their report published on Tuesday (Stationery Office, Is. 6d.). They recommend that a standing national committee, including representatives of Government and industry, should be established to keep under constant review progress in furthering aspects of industrial safety.
NEW EDINBURGH STATION A NEW bus station costing at least £250,000 will be opened in Edinburgh soon, Mr. James Amos, chairman of Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd.,
announced last week. He said that the station would help to relieve congestion. There would be subways from which passengers would pass from the main platform to subsidiary platforms.
SCOTS MANAGERS' CLUB
TRANSPORT managers in Scotland I are invited to the next meeting, at 7.30 p.m, on. May 29, of the newly formed Scottish Transport Managers' Club at 70 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, C.1. Application forms for the 1956-57 session are available from the secretary,
80 • Pollok Drive, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow.