Smithfield Inquiry May Settle "30" Pay Question
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THE appointment of a condmittee Of inquiry into the Smithfield dispute (reported on page 672) may bring to a head the whole question of extra payment to drivers of heavy vehicles now that the speed limit has been raised from 20 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h.
If the committee found that the drivers and mates of meat vehicles, who began an unofficial strike on April 19, were justified in demanding a 15 per cent, pay increase consequent upon the raising of the speed limit, the whole of the road haulage industry would be placed in a difficult situation.
The members of the inquiry, announced on Wednesday, are • Prof. D. T. Jack (chairman), Mr. D. K. Rollit (British Employers' Confederation) and Mr. W. A. Morrison (Printers', Bookbinders' and Paper Workers' Union). They are to determine the causes and circumstances of the meat-vehicle drivers' dispute. They will meet at Church House, Westminster, at 10.30 a.m. on Monday to decide whether the inquiry will be held in private or public.
The Road Haulage Association are not yet sure how far their members' interests would be affected. if it appears that the whole principle of payment geared to the speed limit will be raised, they will undoubtedly ask to be allowed to give evidence before the inquiry.
Although, members of the R.H.A. are directly involved in the dispute, the Association are not represented on the National Joint Industrial Council which fixes the wages of Smithfield drivers. The case, for the employers concerned will be presented by the Wholesale Meat and Provisions Transport Association.
90 Per Cent. Not Affected
W.M.P.T.A. said last week that more than 90 per cent, of the 1,700 drivers and mates of meat vehicles who were on strike were not affected by the higher speed limit. The employers were asked to award a pay increase of 15 per cent. to some 1,500 men who had no reasonable claim. The drivers were already paid more than the average rates for the haulage industry and their total earnings. frequently exceeded £1,000 "a year.
The employers had been willing to negotiate a pay adjustment that would take account •of increased productivity resulting from the higher speeds at which some vehicles could now travel. They had been prepared to submit the matter to arbitration. • They would not, however, pay something for nothing. When the men returned to work, a date for continuing discussions on the claim would be fixed.
NORTH WESTERN BUY COACH BUSINESS
THE whole of the issued share capital
of Melba Motors, Ltd., Reddish, has been acquired by the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd. Mr. George Brook, general manager of North Western, has taken over the duties of managing director of Melba, which will continue to operate as a separate entity. Melba run 10 coaches.
Deadlock on Municipal Pay Claim
NO agreement on the claim for an increase in, pay for .municipal bus workers was reached on Tuesday by the sub-committee of the National Joint Industrial Council to whom the matter had been referred. The sub-committee will report to •the council on July 10.
• Apart from a straight increase in wages, the unions are demanding payment at time-and-a-quarter, instead of at the rate of an extra 3d. an hour, for night work.
A special committee of the National Council for the Omnibus Industry, to which the claim on the provincial bus companies was referred, will meet next Tuesday.
EXPRESS SUBURBAN SERVICE FOR BIRMINGHAM?
AN experimental express service from the city to the suburbs is recommended by a committee of inquiry into the affairs of Birmingham• Transport Department, whose report was presented to the transport committee on Tuesday. At the instance of the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, the inquiry covered services, economies and the future design of buses.
The report said that Birmingham's undertaking compared favourably with those of other towns with regard to fares, services and efficiency. It was thought that the municipal buses had little to fear froin rail competition in the city.
LONDON BUS STRIKE CONTINUES
WITH 64 garages voting in favour of VV continuing the' strike and 54 against, there was no immediate hope on Wednesday of the London busmen returning to Work. The negotiating committee of the 'Transport and General Workers' Union Met on Wednesday to consider the situation.
One of the principal factors influencing the voting was the absence of a definite cash offer to the country busmen and maintenance workers, although they had been assured unofficially that they would receive a concession.
Another bone of contention was the new schedules arranged as a result of the immediate 10 per cent. cut to he made in services. London Transport said on Wednesday: " Overall, the. wages of the stiff in respect of their standard working week wilt not be affected . by the reductions."
HIGHER ALLOWANCES
INITIAL allowances on plant and I machinery, which include vehicles, are to be raised to 30 per cent., the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the House of Commons on Tuesday. The allowance for buildings becomes 15 per cent. These revisions will date from April 15.
78 DEFECTIVE VEHICLES
nu 150 goods vehicles checked on the
A3 road at Wisley, Surrey, on Monday. 78 were found to be defective. Seven were prohibited and live prosecutions are to be made.