WHEELS of INDUSTRY
Page 36
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The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport, at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier, OSWALD TILLOTSON SHARES PURCHASE.
In our issue dated May 17 we were able to give exclusive information regarding an offer to acquire a large interest in the Bouts-Tillotson group.
This offer has been made by a syndicate of public carriers consisting of Messrs. Charles Holdsworth and Oliver IIoldsworth, Halifax, and Robert Hanson and Donald Hanson, Huddersfield. Acceptances exceeding the required minimum of 445,000 shares have been received. Consequently, the offer of 3s. per share for the ordinary shares of Oswald _ Tillotson, Ltd., has been taken. The company was formed in 1929, and the number of 5s. ordinary shares is 853,768.
Y.S.C.O.A. Defies Conciliation Award.
The Yorkshire Stage Carriage Operators' Association is persisting in its refusal to accept, with the Yorkshire wages award made for the interim period by the National Joint Conciliation Board, the conditions of work laid down by the National Board, including the 48-hour guaranteed week.
As reported last week, the Yorkshire Conciliation Board has unanimously accepted the award, but the Y.S.C.O.A. representatives who voted for acceptance, contend that they did so on the understanding that the award did not carry with it the conditions laid down by the National Board.
The Association has, this week. sent out circulars to its members recommending mem to pay tile weekly wa.s set out in the award, but on the basis of a 53-hour non-guaranteed week. The award provides for the payment, during the interim period, of Grade 2 wages in part of the Yorkshire Traffic" Area, and Grade 3 in the remainder. Members of the Y.S.C.O.A. are advised to pay on an hourly rate.
Minister Explains Safety Measures.
The opening of the National Safety Congress in London, on Wednesday last, was Marked by a speech by the Minister of Transport, Mr. L. HareBelisha,_in which he reviewed the progress made during the past 12 months in promoting safety on the roads.
Arrangements have, he said, been made, in co-operation with the Minister of Education, to draw up a curriculuin of road safety to be taught in the schools. A Departmental Committee has already been appointed for this purpose, and a similar committee has been formed for Scotland.
On the subject of driving tests, Mr. Hore-Belisha said that 10 per cent, of the applicants have failed. During the 10 weeks ended May 18, 1935, the number of persons killed on the roads B18' of Great Britain showed a reduction of 13.9 per cent. over the corresponding period a year earlier, whilst the number of persons injured dropped by 8.7 per cent. The figures for the City of London and the Metropolitan Police Area were even more satisfactory. For the same periods of 1934 and 1935, the number killed showed a reduction of 30.7 per cent., whilst the number injured declined by 15.4 per cent.
During this week, local authorities are to be furnished with particulars of the London safety experiments, with a view to inducing them to follow London's example. NEW APPLICATION FORMS FOR CARRIERS' LICENCES.
The Minister of Transport has issued a series of revised forms for use in connection with applications for licences under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933.
In addition to the alterations included to adapt the forms for use in applying for licences in continuation of those existing and to meet difficulties which have arisen in practice, Form G.V.1 has been split into G.V.1A and G.V.1B for use in connection with A and B licences respectively. The forms have also been rearranged, so that all trailers to be authorized under a licence will be dealt with as one item and will no longer he divided into those in possession and those to be hired. '
Owner-drivers Must Keep Records.
When Mr. W. H. Porvling, of Witham, appeared on a summons for failing to keep a record of the period for which he was employed in driving his vehicle, he pleaded that, as the owner and driver, he did not think it was necessary-for him to keep a record of his journeys.
The magistrate pointed out that owner-drivers are bound to keep records in the same way as an employee, but as this was the first case of its kind in the district, the defendant would be called upon to pay only 5s. costs.