M.P.T. A. Conference
Page 62
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THE purchasing power of the wages of a top-rate municipal bus driver has increased by about 9 per cent. in the past 10 years, allowing for the decline in the value of the .f. During the same period the return given for higher wages in a sample group of municipal bus undertakings fell by 11 per cent. This trend has been accompanied by a drop in municipal bus passenger traffic of at least 4 per cent. since 1952.
These points were made on Tuesday by Mr. J. P. Senior, general manager of Burnley, Colne and Nelson Joint Transport Committee, in a paper read to the Municipal Passenger Transport Association's annual conference at Southend-onSea.
"The Other Incentive "—the subject of his paper—referred to service in the common good. After examining several disquieting tendencies, he sought to suggest ways by which the spirit of service could be encouraged. Opportunity, organization, information, training and leadership were, he said, five essential ingredients.
In his presidential address, Mr. R. A. Fearnley, general manager of Coventry Transport Department, touched on the form of control of municipal transport, as did Mr. Senior. Mr. Fearnley suggested that local authorities should be watchful in retaining the prerogatives of transport committees, so that they were vested at least with powers equivalent to those of the boards or executives of nationalized industries or public transport companies.
As his 'theme, Mr. Fearnley stressed the problems of a transport committee who had not only to serve the public and make sure they obtained adequate revenue, but to try to show a credit balance to plough back into the undertaking.
He recommended a greater measure of standardization in con.nection with . chassis and body requirements. In his experience, standardization was a way to reduce vehicle weight and benefit fuel consumption.