Workers' Playtime
Page 61
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By The Hawk
Bird's Eye View
"WHITHER workers? Have you so soon forgotten the days when we were under the iron heel of the private monopolists? Is it unbecoming for us to obey the reasonable orders and directives of the supervisory officers appointed by the C.T.B.? Is it a disgrace?"
Believe it or not, this is how an article begins in the March issue of the Ceylon Transport Board's Transport News. Considering that the C.T.B. is a comparatively new nationalized undertaking, this publication is a gift to anyone opposed to State control of industry.
According to the writer of the article, Mr. Sumana Premaratne, who is employed by the C.T.B., "it is common talk that the standard of discipline amongst the workers in the C.T.B. has deteriorated considerably.' His revelations make astonishing reading.
Example: "Two of the major causes for the deterioration of standards of discipline of some of the fellow workers (sic) are drinking and gambling. Some of them who had not previously touched liquor are today confirmed drunkards. Others who did not even know the number of cards in a pack are today habitual gamblers."
Apparently there is also a marked tendency to defy the authority of superior officers. "During the early stages of nationalization," laments Mr. Premaratne, "the employees displayed a great sense of responsibility, and were obedient to their superior officers."
Then comes the sting in the tail. All these failings "may be attributed to the administration being stultified, wrong and unprincipled directions by trade unions, and political interference."
No Attack
NAR. J. A. T. HANLON, Northern Licensing Authority, must iVi be unduly sensitive if he 'thinks he has been attacked by the Road Haulage Association because of a difference of opinion over alterations to vehicles. As The Commercial Motor reported on February 20 and 27, Mr. F. Milton, R.H.A. Northern Area secretary, acting on legal advice, took the view that, no matter how a vehicle was modified, it did not lose its original identity so long as it retained its registration number.
Mr. Hanlon disagreed and complained that he had been attacked.
I have now read the official transcript of the exchanges between .Mr. Milton and Mr. Hanlon and, although I sense a tense atmosphere, they were perfectly proper. If anything, Mr. Hanlon was the testier of the two. He was certainly not attacked in any sense of the word.
Not So Domestic
APPARENTLY British Road Services have forgotten that when they originally reached the basic agreement with the unions for improved pay and conditions in return for the working of heavy vehicles at 30 m.p.h., they issued full details to the Press. They now say that the formula by which the agreement is to be put into effect is a "domestic matter."
This little " private " treaty will undoubtedly be thrust by the unions on private-enterprise hauliers, and ultimately C-licensees may also be affected. If it is a private matter, so is the opening of Parliament by the Queen.
Musical Honour
TAzz is being used by Ford to help to sell Thames 10-12-cwt. J and 15-cwt. vans. It is the basis of a sales film without commentary which has been accepted for showing at the second festival of Films in the Service of Industry, to be held at Harrogate from April 21-24. Ford have had two films accepted. The British Motor Corporation have also been successful with a 26-minute colour film showing the many uses to which Austin commercial vehicles are put. The Dunlop film on disc brakes, "The Power to Stop," is to be shown. too.
A special award is being made for the film which is best calculated to promote British exports. We shall see whether the Cy Laurie Jazz Band is able to sell Thames vans in New Orleans.
Bardo(t)ver
TAT0 of East Kent's Continental coach drivers and a camoufiaged 23-year-old Leyland double-decker are making a film with Miss Brigitte Bardot in France. The action is supposed to take place in the Dover area in 1940. That is why the film is being made in France.