Wanted A Sign of Good Faith
Page 31
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BEFORE, nationalization, road transport was a profitable business; it did not need to be subsidized by the public. It was to be hoped that hauliers would soon again be in a position to assist the taxpayer by profitable operating. These comments were made by Mr. A. R. Butt, chairman of the Road Haulage Association's Birmingham sub-area, at its annual dinner and dance, last week.
Mr. Butt said that 1951 had been the year of the little man, who had carried on despite hardships and sacrifices. The injustices of the 1947 Act had been kept before the public, and the important place of the small operator had received recognition in the House of Commons.
The Association did not expect denationalization to be achieved in five minutes—the Government had many urgent international problems to contend with--but a sign of good faith was awaited from the Minister of Transport. The outlook in January, 1951, had not been bright; the Association looked forward to 1952 with more confidence.
Mr. J. Foley Egginton, West Midland Deputy Licensing Authority, said that the Association must see that the Government honoured its promises.
BODY MAKERS' PAY INCREASE
A DULT male workers in the vehiclePI building industry have been awarded a wage increase of 3d. an hour by the Industrial Disputes Tribunal. The decision was made as a settlement of a dispute between the National Union of Vehicle Builders and the Amalgamated Society of Woodcutting Machinists and the employers over a claim by the workers' representatives for a rise of 6d. an hour.
The Tribunal has directed that women's pay be increased pro rata and that the award should take effect at the beginning of the first full pay period following January 9.
Lo.T.'s DUTCH VISIT
DETAILED arrangements for the visit to Holland by members of the Institute of Transport and their wives from May 19-29 have been announced. Hotel accommodation will be reserved in •Amsteidam and all visits will be made from there.
The itinerary has been planned to provide ample opportunity for studying transport developments in the Netherlands. There will also be visits to places of industrial, historic and scenic interest,
NO PETROL RATIONING
IN the House of Commons, on 'Tuesday, Mr. R. A. Butler, Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed that petrol would not be rationed.