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BIRD'S EYE VIEW
Page 113
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By The Hawk Upsurge in Ulster Some people may think it typically Irish that the chairman of the new Road Transport Association of Northern Ireland should be assistant general manager of a shipping line—Belfast Steamship Co. Maybe so, but he happens to be an Englishman, Mr. Norman Harper, and the association was primarily his idea in the first place! It has come into being because, with the ending of UTA's virtual monopoly of road goods freight. Belfast hauliers confined to a three-mile radius for years are now being allowed to operate throughout the province so long as they conform to certain conditions.
One of the Ulster conditions is the payment of agreed wage rates, and Norman Harper saw very early that some sort of trade association would be needed on this and other matters if the carriers were to speak with a united, coherent voice.
A Friendly Society The association, registered as
a friendly society, has had advice from the RHA and now has 200 members with 2,000 vehicles. A sub-committee comprising Mr. Harper, his colleague Mr. D. P. Neil (who is hon. sec.), Mr. Stanley Jackson, from the new Northern Ireland Carriers Ltd., and Mr. James White, from Londonderry, has just finished talks with the unions in drawing up pay-and-conditions plans. They were due to be ratified this week by the 22-man Joint Industrial Council for Road Haulage, on which the Association is the official employers' body. Vice-chairman of the Association Is Northern Ireland Carriers' managing director, Mr. Trevor Thornton.
Fond of Badges You can expect many amus
ing happenings when you get almost 30 journalists of different nationalities together for over a week as on the Ford run through Russia (reported fully last week). But one of the most amusing I have heard concerns badges.
The Russians appear to be particularly fond of badges, and I am told that males of all ages were continually asking the party for them. Not having any of the very decorative types normally favoured by the Russians, the Ford personnel made do by presenting Ford Times Junior Car Spotter badges when necessary. On children, these did not look out of place, but they looked rather incongruous on the lapels of men. And the strangest junior car spotter was the captain of a hydrofoil vessel which took the Ford 'party on a trip on the Black Sea.
Parts of History? The big Section 178 inquiry into the maintenance arrangements of Davis Bros. (Haulage) Ltd., which was adjourned in London last week, was notable for the lengthy discussion devoted to two commercial vehicle components produced by the learned counsel for Davis Bros., Mr. M. H. Jackson-Lipkin. It is possible that the components concerned, clearly identified by part numbers, and high tensile bolts allegedly supplied by the vehicle manufacturers for use with the components, may make transport history.
The "hi" bolts, when " miked up" in court by a Ministry of Transport vehicle examiner, were between 4 and 5 thou. undersize; and they were a distinctly sloppy fit in the holes of the parts concerned—a Leyland spring hanger bracket and a Hardy Spicer flange, with a Ford parts number.
Talking Shop Lets face it—talking shop is
what conferences are organized for—or should be. But things don't always work out that way.
This merry month of May has been conference time when organizers, speakers and ubiquitous journalists have all been doing their respective stints.
But what about the fellow who actually pays for it all —the common-or-garden delegate—what does he get for his money?
Theory and Practice In theory he has his moment of glory at question time. In practice that period is so limited that barely 10 per cent have the opportunity. Yet the hubbub at the 10-minute coffee breaks clearly demonstrates the innate desire to talk shop. But the opportunity is all too limited.
Circulation of prepared papers in advance should be the accepted practice. It saves precious time for more discussion and, equally important, gives every delegate the opportunity to get to grips beforehand with a possibly new and erudite subject. Only then can he be expected to ask searching questions.
So—more delegate participation or the current popularity of conferences may ultimately wane.
Profit from Meat I hear that Northern Ireland roll-on roll-off ferry service operators are profiting from the English (and European) appetite for meat. Realistic Eire farmers, too, disturbed by transit delays via Dublin, send their frozen meat over the border for onwards transit. Ruling market prices, it appears, determine the destination of the meat, snap decisions being made in Ireland.
All this is good for hattliers, good for ferry service operators and, not least, good for insulated container manu. facturers. I saw an excellent example of the latest ACCS insulated container at the Scottish Materials Handling Exhibition recently.