BIRD'S EYE
Page 66
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
By The Hawk VIEW Managers Relaxing "This enjoyable evening is
not to be taken by our customers as the reason for a rates increase," said Mr. F. W. Abdee, proposing the toast of the guests at the Ladies' Festival held on Saturday by the London area of the Transport Managers' Club. This genial reassurance was taken in the spirit intended—i.e., it didn't stop anyone enjoying themselves for a moment. The national chairman, Mr. A. E. Searle, put it on record that the eight areas of the dub now have 629 members, and it slips out of " adolescence " into its 20th year in 1965.
My palm for the most original way of proposing the toast to the Ladies went to Mr. J. S. Scriven who, drumming up custom for the tombol'a in aid of a very worthy charity, told a touching tale. It seems that last time he indulged in such a competition the envelope he received contained a chain letter, with the usual appeals not to break the written chain, etc., etc. It advised him to pass the message-.on, then bundle up his wife and send her to the name at the top of the list. When his name came to the top of the list he would receive' 16,484 wives. The man who broke the chain had got his own wife back!
Do I need to add that the evening went with a swing? Touching Tale
Sold Out " Great interest, good pros pects, sold all exhibits ". So cabled Mr. Arthur Turnbull sales director of Crypton Equipment (M.I. Group) of Bridgwater, at the close of the recent British trade fair in Peking. Mr. Turnbull reported that the Crypton stand had been busy throughout the show and that the potential for future business with China was substantial. I am sure there must be many industrialists in Britain who share this view. It's going to be most interesting to see how our trade with " red " countries develops e over the next five years.
To get a higher general standard of vehicle maintenance is going to demand not only better maintenance systems but more high-quality transport engineers and a wider recognition of their importance. I'm sure the Ministry of Transport—which is prodding operators to improve standards — wouldn't disagree with that. In which case I hope they'll have a quiet word with their brothers in the Ministry of Public Building and Works who, on the face of it, are not exactly in the vanguard of this movement towards enlightenment.
c38 Begins at Home?
If you wonder what I'm talking about then you obviously haven't read the advertisement in The Commercial Motor last week asking for vehicle maintenance officers with at least eight years' training and experience, including three years in a supervisory capacity. They had to possess a thorough knowledge of petrol and diesel engines, be familiar with job card costing and stores procedure; be fully capable of vehicle inspection and testing; and possess an O.N.C. in mechanical engineering or something equivalent. They are needed to allocate work and control staff maintaining a mixed fleet of commercial vehicles, cars, tractors and mobile plant.
And for all this they are offered—what? From £884 at 25 to £975 (28 or over) rising to £1,091, plus a little bit more for London staff. Then what is the man on the shop floor getting? I can't think of a case in private industry where a fitter gets a lower figure than these.
Perhaps there is still some hidden value in being a civil servant. It surely can't be the financial inducement that attracts.
Colour Trouble I hear that the transport com
mittee of Edinburgh Corporation have something of a colour problem. Don't get the wrong idea—the point at issue is purely sartorial. The suggestion has been made that the city's bus drivers and conductors should wear maroon uniforms. But it's been suggested that, in conjunction with the present " regulation " dark blue shirt and light tie, this might look a little odd—giving a marked "Union Jack" appearance.
How did the problem arise? The Corporation's transport manager, Mr. Ronald Cox suggested maroon as being a suitable colour for the conductresses and female inspectors—but, it was thought, if this colour were introduced it should be for the whole staff. Fair enough, but red, light and blue—just a little bit much, don't you think?
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness." This proverb has been drummed into the reluctant ears of countless grubby kiddies throughout the ages. But, apparently, there are a few adults in the Southern Counties who are currently taking this sentiment very much to heart, viz the hi-jacking of £3,000-worth of washing machines early last week shortly followed by the theft of a large load of soap powder by the same gang using the same methods. Coming Clean ?
When driving on a lonely road and flagged down by a young blonde what do you do? Very likely you stop. But, as I'm sure the drivers of the two vehicles alluded to in the story above would agree, you would be -well advised not to. For it was by "using the ploy of a blonde decoy" (verse!) that these two lorries were stopped and inevitably rifled.
The Blonde Decoy