AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Lack of Liaison on Works Services

21st November 1958
Page 50
Page 50, 21st November 1958 — Lack of Liaison on Works Services
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THE lack of liaison between a factory's personnel staff and local transport operators was described as "extraordinary" by Mr. F. Williamson, chairman of the North Western Traffic Commissioners, at Manchester last week.

Roberts Coaches, Ltd., Crewe, were applying to run two express works services to Charrnond Food Products, Ltd., Holmes Chapel, from Ash Bank and Delamere Street, Crewe.

Mr. H. Backhouse, for Roberts, said most of the employees were married women with homes and families to look after, so timing was important. At present they used Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., to get to Crewe station and then they caught a train to Holmes Chapel. From the station they had to walk half a mile to the factory, which meant most of them leaving home at 6 a.m. As a result, the factory was faced with labour drifting away.

Mr. N. E. Green, Roberts' manager, said in evidence that he proposed to run the services at 2s. 6d. return. There were no through express services to Holmes Chapel from Crewe.

Charmond's personnel manager, Mr. E. Bateman, pointed out that with the handling of perishable fruit all the work had to be hnished in one day. Thus, there was a danger that workers might miss the return train and have a long wait for the next one. A through service would prevent this. At present some women were away from home 13 hours a day.

Crosville's divisional manager at Crewe, Mr. 1. Green, said that if representations had been made to the company there would have been duplication and, if necessary, times would have been amended. To this, Mr. Back house observed that if the present situation were anything to go by it was no wonder Crosville ran 60 per cent, of their services at a loss.

Mr. R. C. Oswald, for Crosville, said the main reason for their objection was that they could not afford to lose any passengers by abstraction. It was a recognized fact that unremunerative services had to be run in the public interest.

Mr. Backhousc replied: "This journey is absolutely disgraceful and reminiscent of the Middle Ages, when people did better with coaches and horses."

All Crosville had to lose was a small profit, he declared. The only reason this state of affairs had arisen was because the area was on the borders of the Crosville and North Western Roadcar Co., Ltd. boundaries.

Mr. Williamson said he appreciated tho difficulties suffered by the women, but he had to think of the public at large. The first route would be refused, although part of the second would be granted. He would announce which part in due course.


comments powered by Disqus