Important Tasks of Passenger. vehicle Independents
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REGRET that war-time difficulties had made imperative various restrictions on the activities of those present was expressed by Sir William Chamberlain, North-west Regional Transport Commissioner, at a meeting of independent p.s.v. operators held in Manchester recently. -His constant anxiety was to do all in his power to enable independents to earn at least sufficient revenue to maintain them in being until happier times returned.
Between 60 and 70 per cent, of vehicles in the local independent groups were engaged on essential work, often in areas ' covered by municipal and other undertakings, and it was his intention to follow a policy whereby use would be made of all independents' vehicles on services for which they were eminently suitable.
He urged operators to maintain their vehicles in the best possible mechanical condition, in view of the heavy future demands which were likely to be made on passenger transport.'
The Commissioner then dealt with the question of conversion of suitable single-deckers and stated that compulsory powers were available to him, if necessary, in this connection,
Mr. Herbert Allen, M.B.E., liaison officer between the Regional Transport Commissioner and the, emergency group leaders, who took the chair, outlined the origin and development of the emergency group arrangements in the region. He referred to the helpful relations that had been established • between the independents' group and those of the municipal and other large undertakings.
The billeting officer, Mr. Seddon, reported that satisfactory arrangements had been made at all points where they were likely to be-required for the billeting of drivers who had to remain away from home in connection with emergency work.