Operating Aspects of Passenger Transport
Page 31
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MORE EMPLOYING WOMEN CONDUCTORS
MEARLY every bus-operating con1 lIcern is either considering or is actually employing women conductors. In most instances, there is a feeling that they should not be taken on until the committees are satisfied that no male labour is available, although some operators believe that it is preferable to employ active women than elderly men.
Newcastle-on-Tyne, for instance, will probably employ about 100 women, but already . hundreds of applications have been received.
Well over this number will, according to Mr. H. C. Godsmark, be required within the next few weeks by Huddersfield, which already has 70 at work.
Bolton has adopted a scale of pay recommended by the Whitley Council, i.e., not less than 90 per cent. of the adult male commencing rate tor the first six months, and after that the same pay and increments as male con ductors. This means, at Bolton, £2 18s. ad. for a 48-hour week, rising after three years' service to a maximum of £3 9s. for tram and Is. less ior bus conductors.
Oldham is also to engage women, whilst such conductors have already made their appearance in the Norwich area. No doubt they will soon be employed in most passenger-transport organizations throughout the United Kingdom.
LICENCE RENEWALS FOR SOUND TAXICABS
AN extension of the 10-year licensing period for London taxi-cabs was suggested in Parliament last week by Sir W. Davison, because new cabs were practically impossible to obtain. The reply given by Sir John Anderson was to the effect that cabs which bad been in service for 10 years were called up for special examination before a new annual licence was granted.
The Commissioner of Police was fully live to the considerations referred to and if the vehicles were stilt in fair state and complied with prescribed conditions of fitness, they would continue to be licensed.
CHARGES FOR P.S.V.s ON EVACUATION SERVICES
As the result of further discussions between the -C.M.U.A. and other national organizations, and the Ministry of Transport and other Government Departments, the following charges have been agreed for the use of public service vehicles for possible future evacuation of the civil population.
For the hire of single-decked vehicles: Is. per mile run or 10s. per hour, whichever is the greater; minimum charge 30s. per vehicle turned out per day. For double-decked vehicles: Is. 3d. per mile run or 12s. 6d. per hour, whichever is the greater; mini
mum charge 375. 6d. per vehicle turned out per day. The following supplementary charges were also agreed: reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in respect of stall working over 10 hours (in this connection the Ministries have asked that operators will restrict these expenses to a minimum and debit only expenses that are reasonable in all the circumstances), the cost of any extra supervision, as for example the services of inspectors, etc., which may be required by the local authorities or other Government body.
The above charges are based on present rates of wages; costs of material and taxation, and are to be subject to variation in the event of any increase or decrease in those items of expenditure. They are conditional upon the work being carried out under normal conditions. In the event of the conditions being abnormal, the operator is to have the right to approach the Minister and agree amendments. Time and mileage to be calculated from the time the vehicles leave the depot to the time they return to the depot, and the time is to be calculated to the nearest quarter of an hour.
It is requested that any demand for increase in charges as the result of increasing costs should be submitted through the C.M.U.A.
CAMOUFLAGING THE ROOFS OF BUSES
THannouncement by London E Transport that the roofs of its buses have been painted dull grey has aroused a chorus of comments. Manchester, for instance, had darkened the roofs at the end of last year. Stockton also claims that it gave a lead several months ago, whilst the roofs of West Hartlepool buses have been painted a dark lead colour'. The Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., adopted the procedure at the beginning of hostilities. The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., started the policy in September for each vehicle as it passed through the paint shop. In other cases, the roofs are already some dull or inconspicuous eolour.
PAPER SUPPLIES FOR BUS AND COACH TICKETS
THE attention of the C.M.U.A. has beep directed to the difficulties experienced by. certain operators in securing adequate supplies of paper for bus and coach tickets. Existing regulations under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, require operators of public service vehicles running on authorised services to issue a ticket to each passenger. The essence of control of road passenger
• transport operation depends upon compliance with this regulation, and it is not always practicable or economic to alter the whole system of ticket issues as at present employed. Conversations are proceeding between the Association and the Ministry of Supply in connection with this difficulty to which there does not appear to be any easy solution.
WEEK-END BUSES FOR WORKERS
MOW -that many people throughout lithe country are working seven days a week, it is of the utmost importance that adequate transport facilities should be provided for them, but, during the first week of the new arrangement, there was a large number of complaints at the inadequacy of services. Some operators contended that they had not been warned in time by various works in their areas of operation. The situation will no doubt improve.
lt may, however, be necessary to demand extra fuel for this purpose, as it will he difficult to cut down the already-restricted services available during the remainder of the week.
There has also been difficulty al respect of workmen's fares, but it is pointed out by some operators that employees are being paid higher rates for their extra labour, whilst p.s.v. operators have to Day their staffs in the same manner. It would therefore ne difficult to justify any general reduction, BUS JOY-RIDING ON SUNDAY DEPRECATED COMPLAINTS are being 'made that N...•sorne bus operators, whilst cutting down their services during the week, have been able to run mystery tours on Sundays. The reasons for this procedure are apparently a mystery to the complainers, and it is suggested that the provision of efficient bus services during the week should be the first consideration.
ENCOURAGING THE SAVING OF BUS TICKETS
ANEW poster campaign, with the object of securing the help of passengers in the conserving of paper, was inaugurated last week by London Transport. It is pointed out that the daily issue of 7,500,000 tickets weighs 4 tons, and only a small quantity is recovered. We suggest that the conductors might be instructed to encourage this practice. At present. when a passenger pays on leaving, the conductor has hitherto often ostentatiously punched the ticket and thrown it away.
LONDON-EDINBURGH BUS SERVICE SUSPENDED By instruction from the Regional Transport Commissioner, the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., is suspending its Edinburgh-Londonexpress bus service as from-June 29 for the southward journey, and June 30 for that northward, until further notice. The London-Glasgow express service is also affected, but the Edinburgh-London two-day coach service will, for the present, continue. Holders of return tickets, unable to make the return journey within the period of operation, will be given a refund equal to half the value,