Drivers' Hostels Must be Improved
Page 34
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MAY' I again crave your indulgence in taking up the "'cudgels on behalf of accommodation and food for the long-distance driVer? From time to time I have read, both in your paper and the daily Press, that action was to be taken. It is quite true that something has been done in allowing extra food to the places used by the men and for a period all went a little better, but I am afraidthe majority of placels has now slipped farther back—if that be at all possible.
I de not exaggerate the position in the least when I say that something. will have to be done if the men are to be kept in a proper frame of mind. As mentioned before, I travel the roads and hear things that, to put it mildly, are disturbing, and now that most of the men are off their regular beat, working for the Ministry's organization, to many of these drivers a long journey on a strange route is a nightmare. It used to be a worry in normal times, when food and other things were obtainable anywhere; imagine what it is like now.
-That, however; is not altogether what I am trying to get at. Many of these so-called "homes from home for drivers" show a very poor conception of what a driver's home looks like. In my own experience, during the past few weeks, I have been compelled either to stop or call at one or two of these places, and filthy does not adequately describe them—dirty floors, tables, cups, plates, and cooking utensils.
I do not Wish to condemn all of them; there are some good hostels, but, sad to say, they are all too few. I maintain that if one place can obtain good food and keep spotless (meaning beds as well as the catering department), then so can the others.
As to the beds, this subject is inexhaustible ; I wonder how many men have taken away from some of these places diseases which they may never cast off in this world.
If we cannot alter things ourselves, why not have all these places licensed like the model lodging-house, so that the local sanitary inspector can enter at any time he likes and make a proper examination? This could be done at short notice through the M.O.W.T. and the Ministry of Health combinicig in the .effort. We have had many Orders of one sort and another at short notice; here is one that would be a boon. Such places should be restricted to transport drivers, and if this were so and they did not comply with the requirements and by-laws, then they should be dosed until the owners agree to make improvements.
So far back as 1923 my late father, who also travelled much on the roads, expressed himself very strongly upon this matter of accommodating the transport driver, and an article from him appeared in the "Yorkshire Post" during that year.
It dealt, mainly, with the 'old-type, inns, where he and I used to stay. At that time we would not have thought of going to any other type of place. He referred to the difficulties often_ experienced by travellers, particularly drivers and assistants in charge of commercial vehicles, in obtaining food and lodging.
Owners, tenants and managers of licensed premises were persistent in describing the amount of bedroom accommodation they possessed, the large number of meals they provided for travellers, and their anxiety to oblige all corners at any time of the day or night, all of which served to reassure the licensing justices but at that time many of the innkeepers offered any excuse rather than provide meals and beds for drivers.
Many of these old inns have been -pulled down and modern road-houses erected in their place. Here there is often no accommodation for the traveller, whatever his station in life. The brewers and the licensing ,justices have apparently lost sight of the original function of the wayside. inn. It was built for the benefit of travellers, not as the. glorified dance hall.
Incidentally, many of the new Places are closed or half closed because the' private car is largely off the road. Why should not the dance rooms in them be equipped as dormitories for transport men, particularly as, usually, they have plenty of parking room for vehicles and good facilities for catering? Moreover, most of such places are situated on the outskirts of the principal towns to which transport vehicles are con stantly running. E. :THoRrs, Ripon.