Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT Upheaval Among
INREST among busmen is spreading. The strikes by employees of Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., and the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., were still proceeding at the time of closing for press, having been in progress for about three weeks. Some of the strikers attached to the Chelmsford depot of the " Eastern National,' however, returned to work this week.
Last week-end, strikes Were declared by employees Of United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., and City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd., whilst 250 employees attached to the Hull depot of East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., withdrew labour on Monday. The " East Yorkshire" depot at Elloughton, which is regarded as an offshootof the Hull branch, was also affected.
These demonstrations are unauthorized and condemned by the Transport and General Workers' Union.
A movement is afoot to stir up trolible among busmen employed by the Tilling, B.E.T. and S.M.T. groups.
The strike of the 100 employees of the Bassett-Enterprise undertaking, at Swansea, concluded last Friday, after 11 days. The men, it is understood, resumed work on the advice of the Union.
A midnight meeting at Dudley, last Saturday, of over 1,000 employees of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus' Co., iitd„ decided to ask for an immediate increase in wages of 4d. an hour for drivers and conductors throughout the system, and other concessions. The company was given until midnight to-night (Friday) to accept, or reject these demands. A conference between the men and the management took place on Wednesday.
An effort by Major J. B. Elliott, formerly managing director of Redcar Services, Ltd., to secure an inquiry under Section 74 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, to consider the revocation or suspension of the licences of Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., has failed. A conference between delegates from the central committee of the strikers and officials of the Union took place on Wednesday evening.
Drivers and conductors employed by the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., are now applying for increased wages, whilst the workers employed by United Automobile Services, Ltd„ are seeking immediate negotiations with
Workers Spreads
the company for improved conditions for the inside staff and reforms in the present system of timing drivers and conductors.
Temporary deadlock has been reached in the Scottish disptite. A ballot vote will be taken to-day to decide whether the negotiating committee should. accept the offers of the Scottish Motor Traction Co.. Ltd., and associated concerns, as they stand, or take strike action. It is stated that the concessions already offered by the S.M.T. group would cost the companies
4106,500 annually. The further requirements would cost another 423,000 a year.
GATESHEAD TOO LATE TO BUY ?
OFFICIALS of Gateshead Town %-/Council refuse to comment on the statement by the Gateshead and District Tramways Co., Ltd., that the time limit allowed to the council to buy up the Gateshead Tramways undertaking (in the Gateshead area only) expired in 1923.
The council decided in February. under Section 43 of the 1870 Tramways Act, to acquire the, undertaking and served notice on the company. Whilst the municipality's ultimate intentions were not stated at the time, several councillors expressed their opinion that trolleybuses should be introduced,