Buses stay in the melting pot
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'We must pull together to save industry,' says union chief
• Transport leaders who disagreed with the proposed Government changes in the licensing system were invited last week by the Minister for Transport Industries, Mr John Peyton, to put forward their own proposals. Speaking at the annual dinner of the Association of Public Passenger Transport Operators in Blackpool on September 25, Mr Peyton said that, to some, the changes he had proposed appeared to be "an abdication of responsibility to the community".
The Minister admitted that he put forward no grandiose claims for the measures he had proposed; he did not, for example, regard the minibus as the answer to the operators' prayers. "But I invite those who do not welcome them to produce alternatives which offer something more constructive than the rattle of the alms box and the plea for more exchequer support". he stated.
During the business sessions of the conference, attempts had been made by speakers to draw from Mr Peyton firm statements on the future role of municipal operators within the proposed local government changes. the extension of the bus grants scheme beyond 1975, and the promise to set up a committee of inquiry into the licensing proposals.
Mr Peyton, however, refused to be drawn on the first two subjects, apart from a hint that municipal operators might find the Local Government Reform Bill less alarming than they feared, and rejected the latter. With respect to public transport generally, he said that he was ready at any time to look at ideas which took account of the severe problems confronting the industry and its stranded customers. "The measures I have proposed have this merit they are an attempt, and so far the only one, to grapple with a serious situation, one which cannot be expected to improve of its own account", he added.
Exclusive routes It would be hard to exaggerate the importance of the role of local government in the future of the industry, Mr Peyton said. It was better placed to assess the needs and to think in practical terms such as shopping precincts, exclusive routes and other devices which could provide a new chance for public transport.
How to bring about a return of public transport use, and provide more reliable and comfortable services was a stubborn question. "The answer will not be found in Government pronouncements, or in out-dated restrictions which do more to conceal the problem than reveal the answer", Mr Peyton remarked. "Nor, in my view, would a committee of inquiry help. Time would be wasted and at the end of the day we would he reminded of what we already know", he stated.
Thursday's discussion, following the presentation of the paper "Industrial Relations—A Concept for the Future" by
Mr Leslie Huckfield, MP for Nuneaton (CM last week), did not bring the fireworks one
might have expected, particularly following the speaker's criticism of bus management. However, a useful discussion did ensue, and included a contribution from a trade union official—Mr Larry Smith. head of the passenger section of the Transport and General Workers Union, who was a guest at the conference.
Admitting that the union had just put in a claim for a 15 per cent rise for busmen, Mr Smith said that they now knew that management and employees must pull with each other to save the bus industry "from those who wish to destroy it". Mr Smith supported Mr Huckfield's suggestion for increased worker participation, and claimed that his members now had a new sense of responsibility. With this new approach the industry's image should improve, he claimed.
This constructive point of Mr Huckfield's paper did not receive much support, however, apart from Mr Ronald Cox (Edinburgh), who invited Mr Huckfield to "come and see us in Edinburgh any time".
Every Tuesday there was a meeting of union and management representatives, said Mr Cox. "If you can improve on this, let us know", he added.
Mr Cox also refuted the speaker's claim that the bus industry was backward with respect to technology. In Edinburgh, a double-deck bus could be washed in lmin 40sec, and the machine could be adjusted to take any size of bus. For 20 years the department had used automatically controlled fuel adjusters for refuelling buses, and closed-circuit TV and VHF radio was widely used.
Mr A. C. Barlow (St Helens) also claimed that the industry did not neglect modern technology. Crew and bus scheduling by the STAMINA computer program had been widely employed in north-west England, he claimed. They were limited in what they could do on the publicity front but undertakings did not neglect their image. Fare levels reflected the most important image, he said.
Business sessions The majority of speakers in both business sessions were themselves politicians—usually chairmen of their respective municipal transport committees—which was appropriate at a conference which one speaker described as a "party political" conference. Cllr F. C. Hignett (Chester) was very cautious about worker participation. "If this is management from the shop floor then Heaven forbid." he declared. However, he agreed with "co-operation from the shop floor". .
That word "subsidy" cropped up again on Thursday. Dr Tony M. Ridley (Tyneside PTE) said that Mr Huckfield's paper was a particularly welcome address, and led to a helpful discussion even if one did not agree with the views expressed.
He admitted that worker participation was not so easy to implement as one would hope, but he shared the view expressed on Wednesday that they should get away from the word "subsidy". The construction of motorways and improvement of public transport were both very necessary, and it did not help by turning from one to support the other, Dr Ridley suggested.
Good public relations depended on three things, said air R. Thwaites (Sheffield) —understanding between both sides; consultation, which was dependent on the former; and responsibility. The right calibre of people was required on both sides of the industry, he claimed.
Finally, Mr Leslie Smith (Leicester) remarked that he regretted the "us and them" attitude. It should be "we", he concluded.