Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
FUEL RATIONING POSTPONEMENT CRITICIZED
THE failure of the authorities to notify operators, beforehand, of the intention to postpone petrol rationing by one week, was responsible for considerable disorganization of passenger road-transport services right throughout the country.
Major H. E. Hickmott, managing director of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., has expressed " profound disgust " at the complacent manner in which so serious a matter was dealt with.
" It seems the height of absurdity," he said, "that a bureaucratic control should be able, at will, to postpone the coming into operation of the scheme, whilst the persons who carry on one of the greatest industries affected have had to work at tremendous pressure without any hope of relief by way of postponement, and were not given any prior intimation, whatsoever, of the decision. The ' Ribble ' company operates 1,100 buses and the scheme resulted in the dismissal of 1,543 drivers and conductors, together with a number of other workers. Many of these men are servants of old standing and worthy, in every respect, to continue in the company's employ. If the bus companies had been given a day's notice of the intention to postpone the scheme, arrangements could have been made to inform their employees, and so relieve their minds and continue reasonable services over the week-end,"
NO BUSES AFTER 10 P.M. IN BRISTOL.
AS from last week-end, no buses are to run in Bristol after 10 p.m. Otherwise, all services are being maintained as usual.
PROTEST AGAINST BLACK-OUT DANGERS.
1\ fiEMBERS of the Transport and 1Y/General Workers' Union employed on Glasgow's municipal services, have protested against the excessive blackout restrictions.
Two officials of the Union, Councillor R. McDonald and Mr. J. Greeney, have interviewed Mr. P. J. Dollan, Lord Provost of Glasgow, on the question. They stated that it was impossible for the men to do their work efficiently unless the restrictions were modified. Union officials suggested that, if the restrictions were not made easier, there would be no alternative but to stop the buses and trains in the interests of safety.
Mr. Dolla,n agreed to communicate with the Home Office requesting discretionary power for the city in regard to lighting.
,ABERDEEN BUS AGREEMENT POSTPONED.
NEGOTIATIONS between Aberdeen Town Council and the Aberdeen Harbour Board, to reach agreement on the running of corporation buses on the streets in the harbour, have been postponed. Treasurer Morrison suggested this course in view of the fact that the members and officials of both bodies are, meantime, overwhelmed with urgent work.
Sir John Irvin said that the Harbour Commissioners were anxious to avoid friction. He agreed to the postponement on the understanding that the matter would not be shelved. " We are signing a non-aggression pact," said Bailie Duncan Fraser.
A letter on the subject from harbour ratepayers will be considered at the same time as the negotiations take place.
" SOUTHDOWN " GARAGE EXTENSIONS.
1-. XTENSIONS to the garage of Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., in Bedford Row, Worthing, are rapidly approaching completion.
WOMEN CONDUCTORS FOR LEICESTER BUSES.
AT a meeting last week of Leicester Transport Committee, authority was given for the employment of women conductors should the necessity arise. Nearly 100 employees are now on service.
SERVICES NORMAL IN THE MIDLANDS.
DUS services throughout the Mid1-)lands are still running practically as normal, and, in view of the importance of passenger transport in the industrial centres, it is understood that every effort will be made to maintain them. Excursions have been cancelled.
GLASGOW TO ACQUIRE SPECIAL BUS.
AFTER hearing a report by the manager in connection with a bus constructed for London Transport by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., in which were incorporated special features that might be of considerable assistance to the corporation in the future development of the bus section, it was agreed by the transport committee of Glasgow Corporation that he be authorized to purchase one vehicle of the type mentioned as an experiment
COAL GAS FOR MANCHESTER BUSES?
PROVIDED that the experiments at present being carried out prove successful, Manchester Corporation contemplates operating buses on compressed town gas.
A transport official stated that the gas would be carried in cylinders and that the corporation had made experiments of this nature for some years past. The system is, of course, practicable, as the Gas Light and Coke Co., of London, has a number of its vehicles running on coal gas carried in cylinders or bottles.
FIRST OFFENCE AFTER 108 YEARS.
" THIS is the first offence in 108 years of business," declared W. S. Reid, manager of Campbells, Ltd., of Aberdeen, at Dundee Sheriff Court, last week. A fine of El was imposed on the company for using a motor vehicle licensed as a hackney carriage without the necessary identification mark.
EDINBURGH DISCUSSES TRANSr PORT PROBLEMS.
AS a result of lighting restrictions, a decision that Edinburgh Corporation tram and bus services should be curtailed by one hour in the evenings was made last week by the Public Utilities Committee of the council. •
On the question of concessions to men serving in H.M. Forces, on the casting vote of the chairman, Councillor Walker, it was decided that the matter be delayed for a month, investigation meantime being made into financial and other considerations.
BURNLEY'S SERVICES MAIN. TAINED.
OVER 50 employees of Burnley, CoMe and Nelson Joint Transport Committee have been called up for military service, but the undertaking is maintaining its services. So far there have been no dismissals, but a curtailmen of service is in prospect.
Mr, C. H. Stafford, the transport manager, states that he does not anticipate any change during peak hours and in workmen's specials.
He states, further, that all drivers are performing their onerous duties exceptionally well under black-out conditions.
Receipts for the week ended September 9 were only £40 less than during the corresponding week last year, the respective figures being £5,102, as against £5,142. Passengers carried numbered 745,969, compared with 746,666.