PASSENGER TRANSPORT Secret Reply to Threat
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From a Special Correspondent
THE 420-strong West Bromwich busmen's branch of the Transport and General Workers' Union has sent a secret reply to the Corporation in respect of the
threat to sack any who strike unofficially again. Union officials refused to disclose the contents of the branch's letter. The sacking threat decision was made at an emergency council meeting on Friday.
On Saturday all services were running normally for the first time in four consecutive Saturdays, when the crews struck twice without warning.
They want an improvement in their spread-over allowance which would result in an increase of about 7s. bd. a week and another increase in the attendance bonus of 5s. a week, to be paid to any employee working on a rest day.
Although there had been earlier threats that 'the men might consider imposing an overtime ban and the introduction of working to rule as a counter to the dismissal threat, branch secretary, Mr. D. Watts, said neither of these matters had been discussed.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Four-year Survey: A £200,000, four-year traffic survey of the Greater Glasgow area has been approved by the Government, Glasgow Corporation and allied interests. The Secretary of State for Scotland has promised £80,000 if Glasgow will give a similar amount, leaving £40,000 to be found by British Railways, Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. and others. The proposal involves four years of continuous survey by a professional firm of traffic consultants who would be expected to provide an interim plan in one year. The final result would be long-term proposals covering 10 to 20 years ahead.
Salford Results: Although the number of passengers carried by Salford City transport undertaking in the year ended March 31 last was less than in the previous year80,985,256 compared with 84,711,546—gross receipts were higher at £1.722,660
(£1,619,984). Net surplus on the year's working was £831, compared with a loss of £98,491 previously.
C.I.F. Loses the Green: Coras Iompair Eireann is abolishing green as the main colour for its buses and trains. The company has adopted a new colour scheme in which light grey, white, dark grey, golden brown and black will be used. The winged wheel symbol is to be replaced by a broken circle with the letters C.I.E. in rt.
East Kent Awards: A total of 510 safedriving awards were gained by drivers of the East Kent Road Car Company Ltd. in the 1962 competition organized by R.o.S.Co., a percentage of 75. Of the conductors, 402 (87 per cent) received awards.
Adverts on Green Line Coaches: London Transport's double-deck Green Line coaches are carrying commercial advertisements for the first time. They are carried on the rear lower panels only, on 146 vehicles. It is understood that the single-deck Green Line vehicles will not be involved.
U.S. Bus Companies Sell Insurance: Transcontinental Bus Systems Inc., a large U.S. long-distance bus company, has organized a subsidiary to sell life and accident insurance to passengers at terminals of Continental Trailways, which Transcontinental operates through regional subsidiaries. Another large bus company—Greyhound Corporation—has been in negotiation with Nationwide Corp., an insurance concern, regarding possible joint ownership of a scheme to sell policies at Greyhound bus stations.
A22 Growing group commitments have brought boardroom changes at the Maudslay Motor Co. Ltd., Akester. Sir William Black has relinquished his chairman's seat and Mr. J. D. Slater has also retired from the board. Mr. 3. 0. Rowley, director and general manager of A.E.C. Ltd., who last week became chairman of Transport Equipment (Thornycroft) Ltd., is the new chairman of Maudslay. Mr. John Ford, secretary of A.E.C. Ltd., who has just joined the Thornycroft board, has also been appointed to the board of Maudslay Motors.
Mr. S. Senior, assistant district superintendent, Hastings, of Maidstone and District Motor Services Ltd., has been appointed district superintendent Sheerness, in succession to Mr. J. E. Rutland, who is retiring after 34 years with the company. Mr. Senior joined M. and D. in March this year after three years with Ribble Motor Services Ltd. under the B.E.T. Associated Omnibus Companies' training scheme. Mr. Rutland's retirement comes after a lifetime in the bus industry, starting with the former Sheppey Motor Transport Co. at Sheerness in 1918 after service in the First World War,
Mr. A. Smith, chief engineering assistant of Halifax Corporation, has been appointed deputy transport manager and engineer of Reading Corporation.
With goods-vehicle exports by Ford of Britain in the first 10 months of this year more than 25 per cent higher than in the same period last year, Mr. Sam Forsyth, newly appointed commercial vehicles director, said this week: "This is the first result of an intensive drive by Ford to win a major share in world truck markets." Now Ford has announced the appointment of six commercial vehicle sales district managers for the home market—all new posts. Although operationally responsible to the district office, the new managers will be functionally responsible to Mr. K. Pendergast, Ford truck sales manager. Mr. John Atkinson will be manager for the South East district. He has had 20 years with Ford of Britain, but is still under 40. Mr. Mike Snipper (South West and South Wales) joined the company in 1959 after 10 years in the motor trade in South Africa. Mr. Bill Morecroft (Northern) has a comprehensive engineering background, with 11 years' Ford experience. Mr. Bob Howes (Eastern) has had nine years in the export division and is a specialist in commercial vehicles. Mr. Eric Waller (Scotland and Northern Ireland) has worked in such diverse fields as engineering, tractors, sales, product staff and quality control. Mr. Peter Neal (Midland and North Wales) has an engineering background and his 13 years with Ford include seven as a representative. After more than 40 years' service to public transport in Northern Ireland, Mr. James Courtney, chief engineer of the Ulster Transport Authority, is to retire on January 31. Mr. Courtney is a past chairman of the Northern Ireland section of the Institute of Transport and past president of the Belfast Association of Engineers. He was awarded an O.B.E. in 1959 for outstanding work in the field of transport engineering. His career commenced in 1923 as a partner in McKee's Motor Service and when that company was taken over by the Belfast Omnibus Co. Ltd., in 1927, he was made the latter body's chief engineer, retaining his position when transferred to the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board in 1935. On the establishment of the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948, Mr. Courtney became chief engineer, then being responsible for the road and rail mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering activities.
In the graduateship examinations of the Industrial Transport Association eight students have been awarded the graduateship certificate. They are Mr. M. Byrne, of Silvertown Rubber Co., Mr. P. J. Donaldson, Tate and Lyle Transport Co., Mr. R. Fairweather, Castro! Ltd., Mr. R. W. Kemp, Brown Bros. Ltd., Mr. T. E. Morris, Merchant Trading Co., Mr. J. Perry, Trinity Wharf, Mr. R. H. Stone, John -Dale Ltd., and Mr. W. Windebank, of the British Oxygen Co. Ltd. Mr. Donaldson received the national prize of 4 gn. for the best all-round first-year student, Mr. Perry was awarded the national prize of 5 gn. for the best second-year student and a special divisional prize of 3 gn. went to Mr. Stone.
Mr. E. R. S. Watkins has been appointed joint managing director of Stewart and Ardern Ltd.
Tewel Industries Ltd. has formed a new division—Tewel Engineering—and Mr. R. Brazier has been appointed to take • charge. Mr. Brazier, 30, is a specialist in design engineering. He will establish a complete project chain so that Tewel will be able to offer outside companies a complete design and manufacturing service from basic planning to finished project.
Mr. R. E. W. Holmes, manager for the East Central region of A.E.C. Ltd., has been appointed deputy home sales manager and will take up his new duties on January 1, 1964.
Obituary
WE regret to record the death of Capt. A. J. M. Richardson.
Capt. Richardson, who was previously for a number of years deputy chairman of F. Perkins Ltd., died suddenly at his home in Lechlade, Glos. He was one of the first directors when the company was formed in 1932 by Mr. Frank Perkins.