Bird's Eye
Page 62
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"Fifteen objectors—is that a lot, Sir ?"
'THERE is a movement afoot, I understand, for Mr.
Derek Good, popular national chairman of the R.H.A., to remain in office for a third year. This is something that is not at present allowed for under the rules of the Association, though it is thought that the rules could be altered to allow for this.
Many in the Association feel that, under Mr. Good's expert and energetic guidance, a new image has been created of the road haulier, and it is well known that his term of office will run out long before he will have finished certain jobs that he has started.
Of course, whether it would be possible for him to undertake a third year would depend on whether Mr. Good would be prepared to accept the offer if it came his way. He is a " small " operator and Association business must keep him away from his vehicles for considerable lengths of time. Would he be prepared to go on? My guess is " yes " because, in this pre-general election period Derek Good is known to be one of the few top men in the R.H.A. who can stand up to the Dr. Beechings and the Mr. Marples of this world and enjoy so doing.
New Policy ?
A ND while on the subject of the Association, some other r-srumours are flying around. The stirring resolutions put to the Conference this year received a lot of support, though in some quarters the idea of the R.H.A. "going commercial" is regarded as sheer heresy. Be that as it may, both the 1963 resolutions were sent to the executive and national council for possible action and it may be as a result of their deliberations that rumours of a new policy for the Association are to be heard in some places. Or, of course, it may mean that 1964 will bring much more fundamental suggestions for policy changes. Which, with a General Election in prospect, could be very interesting.
Another Challenge !
A T the luncheon in Belfast Castle to mark the handing
over to the Corporation of the first Fleetline doubledecker bus to be completely assembled in Belfast, I was interested to hear Councillor J. Ross, chairman of the Transport Committee, throw out another challenge to Sir William Lyons, chairman of the Jaguar Group, to bring more work to Belfast. Sir William replied that he was disappointed to receive another challenge—he was hoping to revel in the glory of having met the last one! What Councillor Ross was really hinting at was that he would like the establishment of a Jaguar factory in the city!
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A Separate Organization
INCIDENTALLY, Sir William remarked that to mee
the previous challenge, the Jaguar board had to set uj a separate organization to handle the c.k.d. componeni (more than 3,000 per chassis). Having successfully over come that problem, they now hoped to be able to keel this organization going. More than 1,000 orders had nos been received for Daimler Fleetlines, a gamble which ha, paid off handsomely. Sir William looked forward to bein in Belfast again next year!
To Far-away Places •
ENGINEERING is not regarded by the average perso as a romantic occupation. However, some of .thos who undertake serious responsibilities in this particula sphere do find their lots are cast in faseinating places. I the case of Mr. John Slater Wood, a field engineer wit Leyland Motors Ltd., the places have lately extended froi the floating restaurants of Kowloon to the forests c Finland. His Far Eastern trip, from which he returne at the beginning of November, included visits to Singapoi and Kuala Lumpur. Other journeys during the past 1 months have taken him to Portugal, Spain and Scandinavi
While in Hong Kong...
WHILST in the Hong Kong area Mr. Wood was ab " to spend some time with Kowloon Motor Bus Servio which, with a fleet of 838 vehicles, stands high in the lis of company operators. Kowloon are running 136 Albiot and have 65 units of this make in the process of contrac At the time of Mr. Wood's visit K.M.B.S. had 665 uni operationally employed. Most of the routes start froi the Hong Kong ferry and serve the various districts betwee there and the Chinese border. Individual route mileagi extend to about 25 miles. Very shortly the Kowloon orgai ization will have two new depots which will ease a numb! of their problems for currently many of the buses not c service have to be parked in the open. In the workshoi chassis are assembled from the knock-down state ar bodies are built up with panels and sections from Brith sources.