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Bird's Eye View By The Hawk

20th April 1962, Page 28
20th April 1962
Page 28
Page 28, 20th April 1962 — Bird's Eye View By The Hawk
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Why Call Them Diddlers ?

AMONG the routes finally affected in thelast stage of London Transport's trolleybus conversion scheme are those, between Twickenham and Teddington, which saw the first trolleybuses operated by the old London United Tramways on May 16, 1931. These 56-seaters were nicknamed " Diddlers." Why?

London Transport-have two possible explanations. One is that the word is a corruption of "Tiddlers," which is what they might have been called when the 70-seaters came on the scene in 1935. The other explanation is that the 56-seaters were not fitted with batteries: if they stopped with the current pick-ups at a dead point, it was necessary to "diddle about" with the pick-up arms to try to get the vehicle moving again --including putting them on the reverse set of overhead wires.

Has anyone any other suggestions?

Rate For The Job?

'WHILST listening to an appeal recently, Sir Hubert Hull. V the Transport Tribunal president asked: "Is there behind this case a rate row?" When Mr. C. R. Beddington. for the appellant, confirmed that there had been a difference of sorts. Sir Hubert exclaimed that he thought it was a "most extraordinary thing" that it should he 'suggested at a public inquiry that it was a "criminal thing" to ask for a rate lower than that recommended by the R.H.A.

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presume that it depends, to some extent, on whether the person doing the suggesting himself gives effect to the rates committee recommendations. What is criminal, to my mind, is to take a backload at a rate so low that it does not cover the cost of the journey involved in carrying it—no matter who suggests what!

Mr. Mitchell Complimented

SPEAKING of his impending " retirement " as national chairman of the R.H.A., Mr. J. B. Mitchell had this to say at the Yorkshire area's annual dinner at Ilkley. "I have mixed feelings about my own efforts. But no man can be completely useless—he can always serve as a horrible example." He hoped, he concluded, that it had not been as bad as that.

Reassurance on this point came very quickly from the following speaker, Mr. William Bridge. the area chairman. He hoped that Mr. Mitchell would come back to the area again and added: "He has had to go through some difficult times. He has always kept the peace, has guided members and has done a very good job of work."

Father of Licensing

A ROUND of pleasant "back slapping" followed. Mr. rl Bridge said of Mr. G. K. Newman, the secretary-general, that he was sure he was going to be "one of our most able people.But to Maj. F. S. Eastwood, the Yorkshire Licensing Authority, went Mr. Bridge's biggest bouquet. He is known as the father of the licensing committee. 1 don't know of anyone who has done more for road hauliers and the R.H.A."


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