N.R.T.F. FIGHT MINISTRY ON LOADING BANS
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DETERM1NED efforts were being made this week by the National
Road Transport Federation to defeat a proposal by the Government to give local authorities almost unlimited powers over the control of traffic. They would, for instance, be allowed to ban loading and unloading for up to six hours in any period of 24 hours. As the working day does not exceed 10 hours, it might be possible to collect and deliver goods for only four hours a day.
In a last-minute attempt to prevent this catastrophe, the Federation sent a deputation to Mr. Hugh Molson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, on Monday.
to Meet on Pay Claims
THE employers' side of the National Joint Industrial Council for the road passenger transport industry will meet the workers' side late next week to receive their application for a further "substantial increase" in pay.
As reported in The Commercial Motor on June 15, it is understood that the demand is for an extra 18s. a week. Claims for higher pay are, it is understood, also to be drawn up for drivers and conductors employed by provincial bus companies and the London Transport Executive, but it is considered likely that these will not be submitted until the municipal application has been settled.
"FALSE EVIDENCE" INQUIRY ENDS QTATING that he saw no reason to alter the B licence variation granted in December last to Mr. W. Bullock, of King's Norton, the West Midland Licensing Authority last week ended his inquiry into allegations of false evidence given by a witness who supported the firm's application.
As reported in The Commercial Motor on June 8, Mr. E. Warner had complained to the Authority that Mr. John Moore was "quite wrong" in his evidence that he had been kept waiting at Andoversford market until 6 p.m. because local hauliers did local work first.
Last week Mr. Moore told the Authority that he had once asked Mr. Warner to take some pigs for slaughter to Bricrley Hill. Mr. Moore was told that the job could be done by 3 p.m., but the pigs actually arrived at 7.30 p.m.
TWO MORE WAGES ORDERS I T is understood that the two com promises recently reached by the Road Haulage Wages Council (The Commercial Motor, June 15) will be the subject of separate Wages Orders.
One will provide for payment at time-and-a-half for all overtime worked on Saturdays. The other will specify the holiday season as extending from May 1 to October 15 (a reduction of a fortnight).
a28 The deputation, consisting of Mr. R H. Crow, Mr. J. Janes, Mr. R. Morton Mitchell, Mr. F. D. Fitz-Gerald, Mr. F. A. Walker and Mr. G. Mitchell, were given little encouragement, but this attitude merely increased their determination to fight. The Federation immediately circularized all Conservative peers, pointing out the dangers of the Government's proposals These were contained in a new clause to be moved, this week, on the committee stage of the Road Traffic Bill in the House of Lords (reported on page 527). Originally, Monday and Tuesday had been set aside for the proceedings, but they were continued on Wednesday.
The new clause is part of a policy of widening the powers of local government authorities. There was correspondence on the subject last January between the Ministry and the N.R.T.F. At that time the Ministry's plans, so far as traffic control was concerned, provided for confirmation by the Minister of local authorities' Orders, for objections to be lodged by outside interests and for the Minister to throw out an Order if he was not satisfied with it.
Each Order was to be on trial for three months, during which period objections could be lodged. The Minister could also hold a public inquiry into proposals to restrict traffic. as was done last year at Manchester, All these safeguards were swept away in the Government's new clause, which was strongly opposed in the House by Lord Teynham.
It was specifically provided in the clause that the Minister should not have to •confirm an Order prohibiting or restricting loading and unloading, and that he should have no power to revoke or vary such an Order.
The N.R.T.F. sought to have all reference to loading and unloading deleted from the clause.
PENSIONS FOR ENGINEERS
ASCHEME to provide continuous pension cover for professional engineers throughout their careers, whatever changes of employment take place, is to be launched in the autumn by the Engineers' Guild. It will be open to all members, and members of the Institutions of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers who are eligible to belong to the Guild.
Company Monopoly Outside Rochdale
APPLICAT1ONS by Rochdale Transport Department for consent to run buses on certain roads in Milnrow, Litticborough and Heywood were withdrawn at a public inquiry by the North Western Licensing Authority in Rochdale, last week, after it had been pointed out that the Rochdale Corporation Acts specifically protected Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., and the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., against the corporation operating in those districts without their permission.
A related application to run excursions and tours as part of the corporation's centenary celebrations was also withdrawn.
As well as Ribble and North Western, there were objections by Hebble Motor Services, Ltd., 10 local coach operators and Heywood Corporation.
VAN OBSTRUCTION APPEAL •
AN appeal is to be made against the conviction at Huntingdon of a van driver, employed by a member-company of the Traders' Road Transport Association, accused of obstruction while making food deliveries to a shop in the High Street.
He had been defended by a T.R.T.A.appointed solicitor who contended that the driver had wasted no time in performing his duty during the interval that the vehicle remained outside the shop.
Evidence was given by a police constable, who said he was on duty in plain clothes and maintained a watch on the lorry. He said that there was some delay before work was started on unloading.
BOARD PROPOSAL APPROVED THE proposal for a passenger trans' port board for the Brighton area was approved in principle by Brighton Town Council last week, without discussion and without dissent. It had been recommended by Brighton's Special Transport Committee.
Further talks will now be held with the Brighton, Hove and District Omnibus Co., Ltd., and the Hove, Portslade, Southwick and Shoreham Councils. When agreement has been reached with these bodies the committee intend to approach Southdown Motor Services, Ltd.
NO BUS DENATJONALIZATION
NO move is likely, I understand, to denationalize the State-owned bus companies, writes our political correspondent. The possibility has been discussed in political circles for some weeks—ever since the denationalization of road haulage became virtually complete.
There is no question of anything being attempted before the end of the Parliamentary session, and all indications are that the project is unlikely to make progress at any time in the near future.