Busmen's Pay Talks • •Continue
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I AST week, talks were held in
London between the London Transport Executive and the Transport and General Workers' Union about the pay claim for 58,000 motorbus, tram and trolleybus workers. The meeting was adjourned and no date was fixed for resumption of discussion.
It is understood, says "The Times," that the offer by the bus companies, which the T.G.W.U. has rejected, was for 75. a week extra, or 5s. plus three more days paid holiday.
Union delegates, last week, at their own request, met Sir Robert Gould, chief industrial commissioner of the Ministry of Labour, to discuss the position. No statement of progress was issued.
TAILBOARD-LOADING CASE BEFORE HIGH COURT
IT is understood that some police prosecutions are pending with regard 10 tailboard loading. A charge of this nature was recently dismissed by a magistrate's court, but will be taken to the High Court in November. Until the Court's decision is made, it is unlikely that the charges pending will be continued.
The legality of tailboard loading is questionable, as there is no evidence of a Court of Record ever having considered a case of this nature.
WYNN'S NEW TRAILER USED FOR 90-TON LOAD
A TRANSFORMER weighing 90 1-1 tons was recently carried by Robert Wynn and Sons, Ltd., Newport, Mon, from the B.T.H. works at Rugby to -Manchester.
The trailer employed consisted of two Crane eight-wheeled bogies (described in "The Commercial Motor" on June 29) fitted with pneumatic tyres, and a straight girder superstructure supplied by the Fairfield Engineering Co., Ltd., Chepstow.
The transformer was just over 15 ft. tall, and as the route provided limited headroom, it was loaded in a slung position between the frame members. The trailer is fitted with hydraulic jacking equipment which enables the load to be lowered to clear overhead obstructions or raised to pass over hump-backed bridges.
The route entailed passing over the 'Falls canal bridge on the Rugby-Pailton road. This was recently strengthened to take heavy loads. Some detours were made to avoid low and weak bridges and the length of the journey was 160 miles. The job was completed in five days without incident.
NEW B.M.M.O. GARAGE
A NEW garage for 40 buses was
opened last week-end in Sheepcote Street, Birmingham, by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. The premises had formerly been used as a road transport depot and were acquired by Midland " Red " this year. Further alterations are to be made to the building to enable it to house 70 vehicles. Some services formerly based on the Digbeth garage are operating from the new depot.
Furniture Rates: Makers' Proposals
ANOTHER step was taken this week in the negotiations between the B riti sh Furniture Manufactures' Federated Associations and the Road Haulage Executive for a national schedule of rates for the carriage of new furniture.
Having rejected the scale proposed by Pickford's New Furniture Carriage Service, the B.F.M.F.A. conducted talks with the R.H.E. Various proposals and counter-proposals were made and on Wednesday, a Press conference was to be held by the B.F.M.F.A. to announce an interim schedule to which, it was hoped, the R.H.E. would agree.
COLOURS TO HELP ENFORCE RADIUS RESTRICTION
I N Ceylon, goods vehicles are to be restricted to operation within a 60mile limit. To ensure that lorries do not run outside it, a colour system has been introduced whereby wings and bonnets will be painted according to the vehicles' home districts and enable thosii running outside the limit to be identified. This is a provision of the Motor Traffic Act, which comes into effect on
September L It also provides that buses must have cushioned seats and afford better lighting and ventilation. A bus built to carry 25 persons or more must be built on a passenger, and not a goods, chassis.
Within a 12-mile radius of important towns, roads are to be improved so that bigger buses, including double-deckers, can operate over them.
NICKEL RESTRICTION POSTPONED
REPRESENTATIONS by industry have caused the restrictions to be laid upon the use of nickel to be postponed. Nickel plating of certain articles will be banned on and after October 1, instead of August 22. Partly processed articles may be completed and disposed of up to December 31, instead of October 1,
Items affected were listed in " The Commercial Motor," on June 22.