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Existing Operator rut
on Trial"
AFTER complaints from workpeople a short-term application made by De Luxe Buses, Ltd., Mancetter, Atherstone, to run works services from Mile Oak, Tamworth, to the Charford Mills of Southall Bros. (Birmingham), Ltd., for which licences were held by Messrs. W. L. Handford, Mile Oak, was, in effect, putting the existing operator on trial.
Mr. W. P. James. chairman, West Midland Traffic Commissioners, made this observation at Birmingham on Monday. Apart from one serious lapse, on July 22, the incidents were trivial, he added. They could not be said to be frequent or wilful. The application was refused, but Mr. James said that Handford would have to take special care in future.
Mrs. N. I. Watson, personnel officer of Southall Bros., said that female labour recruited from Tamworth required special transport. Handford took over the service in January. There were minor complaints of irregular timekeeping but nothing serious until Friday, July 22, when one of two buses which brought in workers for the afternoon shift and .took early-shift people home failed to turn up.
No communication was received from Handford and women who were waiting to go on annual holiday were delayed up to three hours while she procured a coach from another operator. Some 40 women on the afternoon shift did not arrive at all and lost a day's pay. Their wage packets had to be delivered to them. When they were able to contact Handford at 7.30 p.m., he said there had been a breakdown. The company had decided to seek another operator as 173 girls were dependent on the services.
Mr. John Else, for Handford, submitted that a serious and substantial charge was being made. It suggested that he was not a suitable person to hold a road service licence. Mr. Handford had made a statement to an enforcement officer which verified that one of his three vehicles had broken down on July 21. A second vehicle was found to be unserviceable on the following day and he was so busy trying to get repairs effected and to hire a replacement vehicle that he neglected to inform Southall.
It was a serious error, but Mr. Handford had acted in good faith in peculiar circumstances, There was no real grievance until that date and his business should not be jeopardized.
RING UP A BUS
A N American bus company plans to r-1. install mobile telephone services on two of its major routes. The Trailways Bus System, which already offers dictation machine, electric shaver, buffetbar and rest room facilities on its vehicles, states that the telephone service will be of unlimited range.