ELASTIC TIME-TABLES ADVOCATED
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AT a sitting of the Southern ScotAland Traffic Commissioners in Dumfries on March 17, Chief Constable William Black put forward several Objections with regard to the proposed traffic' arrangements during the forthcoming Highland Show period. Applications were before the court from a number of bus owners, for licences to run special services from the railway station and from Whitesands to the show ground.
Mr. W. G. M. Dobie, for the Caledonian Omnibus Company and others, said that with regard to the proposed fares, these were the same as when the Highland Show was last held in Dumfries. He had not heard of any complaints then.
Mr. A. Henderson, chairman of the Commissioners, suggested that the fares proposed were rather on the high side-6d. from Whitesands and 9d.
from the station. The question of fares would be considered by the court, but he indicated that those suggested would not be agreed to.
The chief constable said the routes which the magistrates laid down on the last occasion worked satisfactorily, and he suggested that the same routes should be agreed to. He objected strongly to any picking up en route in view of the fact that the streets of the town were narrow, and picking up on the way to the show ground would lead to congestion. Mr. Henderson indicated that if it could be done the court would arrange some scheme with the police to apportion the journeys, but the object of the service was to cater for the pnblic. It a hard and fast time-table be laid down, it might destroy the purpose of the licence.
GLASGOW TYRE CONTRACT HELD UP.
THE offer of the Michelin Tyre Co., Ltd., to supply tyres to Glasgow Corporation on. a mileage basis for two years, has been held up pending an inquiry about union conditions.
The company's offer was £10,244 a year, and was, we learn, the lowest received.
MOTORBUS ESTIMATES UNSATISFACTORY.
T"possible introduction of trolleybuses on unrernunerative bus routes was envisaged by Alderman F. H. Thornton, chairman of the Wallasey Finance Committee, in his budget speech to the council last week.
Dealing with the finances of the various trading undertakings of the corporation, he expressed the view that the motorbus estimates for next year were unsatisfactory, and said he was convinced that the finances of that undertaking were not such as to justify the proposed concessions to users by way of fare reductions or the lengthening of stages. Whilst these moves might be popular, he added, they would be detrimental to the financial stability of the undertaking.
TRANSPORT MEN'S PLEAS REJECTED
REQUESTS regarding overtime payments to Dundee transport employees, and the wages of young conductors, were rejected by the transport committee on March 18. A deputation from the Transport and General Workers' Union asked that overtime rates embodied in the new agreement should be retrospective as from December last, and that conductors should receive the -minimum adult wage at 21 instead of 23.
Mr. Robert Taylor, transport manager, said the amount involved in the overtime retrospective question was about £20, but it would take one of his staff from three to five weeks to calculate it. The request was refused.
Regarding conductors' wages, Mr. Caldwell, treasurer, said a junior conductor received 28s. a week at 18, 31s. at 19 and 35s. at 20, and it was proposed to include them in the 63s. scale, representing an increase of 28s. It was ridiculous to place junior conductors on a pedestal.
DRIVERS' EXCELLENT RECORDS.
NINETEEN bus drivers employed by Birkenhead Corporation transport department, who were each stated to have driven 300,000 miles during the past 10 years without being involved in an accident for which they were blameworthy, were presented with the National Safety First Association gold medal at Birkenhead Town Hall last week.