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TIME TRAVELLER
Page 23
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Our anachronistic review in celebration of the universal law...what goes around, comes around.
75 years ago-2o December 1927
From our Christmas issue comes this merry quip: "Let me help you!" cried the polite lorry driver, as he pulled up alongside the stranded flapper motorist. "I can't get the engine to start. A man who stopped told me it was only the mixture [that was] too strong and he could not wait."
Ten minutes of futile cranking left the helper exhausted and leaning on the wing, looking dejectedly at the engine and wishing he had not waited either.
"I suppose the mixture can't be too strong now, can it?" asked the sweet young thing. "I got some water from that cottage and poured it in there"... (pointing to the carburettor)... "where the petrol goes. Shall I get you some more?"
50 years ago-19 December 1952
Christmas or not, British Road Services drivers were threatening to strike unless denationalisation was postponed. The threat came at a meeting organised by transport union stewards, but the union's leadership announced that this was not official action. The union position was to oppose the Transport Bill, but not to strike. Meanwhile the government was pressing ahead with the bill and R Morton Mitchell, chief executive officer of the Road Haulage Association, said that there would be minimum disruption transferring work over to private enterprise—provided goodwill was maintained.
25 years ago-23 December 1977
Transport Minister William Rodgers was promoting the latest Transport Bill which would include the financial restructuring of the National Freight Corporation. Another clause increased the maximum distance vehicles could be sent for check-weighing from one to five miles. The Freight Transport Association was outraged, warning that the bill "ignored all the practicalities". A spokesman added: "A whole lot of operators will be sent off on these trips with no compensation when they are running legally. This could be crucial with reduced driving hours and 45 c)km limit."