Coach Operators Threatened with Stoppage of Fuel Supplies
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A S the London bus strike got into its stride this week, private coach r-k operators learned from the Transport and General Workers' Union that their fuel supplies were in danger. At least 10 operators werE told that unless they applied for special " clearance notes," tanker drivers would make no more deliveries to them.
The Union's aim was to cutout any work which would ease the_ inconvenience being caused by the stoppage. An official at. the Stamford-Hill strike headquarters said every coach operator would be checked, 'and their activities Would be watched' by Ideal strikers.
"Tanker .driVers are not prepared to deliver to people carrying out work in contravention of the . dispute," . he declared. Operators can write to us and state that they are not interested in the strike, and we will send them a letter which they can Pass on to the oil companies.. We are not interested in whether they want extra supplies or just their normal requirements."
P.VOA. at .1V1iniStry. .
The Passenger Vehicle .Operators' Association said On Monday that such discriminatory action was unnecessary, and would add to the hardships -being suffered by Londoners. Later, two P.V.O.A: officials visited. the Ministry of
Transport to discuss the .• Union's attitude..
Three coach•Operators are now. running serviCes. on route's usually. covered by London Transport. and the .L.T.E.' have offered permission to any other operator who Wants to follow this lead: Tivii of the emergency. services—those of Falcon Coaches (1-fariwton) and Wright Bros., Harlow—are in the suburbs, assisting people in -getting to and from railway stations. But the, third, operated by Chiltern Queens, Ltd., liVoodcote, near Reading, is covering the heart of London.
Both Falcon and Chiltern Queens also have filling-station interests, and the proprietors are confident that they can last oin on present fuel stocks if the tanker drivers stop 'deliveries. Mr. E. ,C. E. Barrett, managing .director of Chiltern Queens, said he had volunteers driving two one-man coaches. between Chiswick and . Hyde Park Corner, , and would consider increasing the number of vehicles if there were sUfficient demand. Government Censure • In Parliament, the Minister of Labour Was criticized by the Opposition for the way the dispute had been handled. He refused to intervene immediately on the grthund that premature Government action might. do more harm than good. At this, .several Labour leaders tabled a Motion of censure, which was debated yesterday.
The Trades Union Congress, who are empowered under their constitution to intervene in a strike if they think they can solve the problem, called a meeting of their finance and general-purpose committee on Wednesday. Mr. Frank Cousins, general secretary of the T.G.W.U., was invited to attend.
To assist drivers. offering lifts, the Ministry of Transport -isSued a statement outlining the inSurance position. They said the Government would indemnify owners of goods vehicles and cars against legal . liability in . respect of casual passengers, provided no payment 'was accepted..
CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH IMPROVES CONSUMPTION
A • 73-SEAT but with automatic trans1-1. Mission had been run by the Western Welsh Omnibus Co., Ltd., • for over 99,000 'suites, and although its fuel-consumption figures were not conclusive, 'they were encouraging :and had been improved when a centrifugal -clutch .was
fitted. _
This was stated by Mr. F. Mason, of Western :Welsh,•. at the C.A.V. western area agenti' tonference at Torquay" on -Tuesday. .. • . • . • .
A Panel of C.A.V. experts said that by "reducing theidling speed. of engines driving , through fluid .flywheels from 350 r.p.m. to 300 r.p.m., the fuel eon-sumption of a bus could be cut by
1+-3+. per cent.
R.H.(63) PUBLISHED' QPERATORS have until May 20 to objeet to the proposals contained, in R.H.(63), published on Tuesday by the Road Haulage Wages Council.
It provides for an,, increase of 5s. a week for adult road haulage workers, 3s. 60, for workers of 18 to 21 years, and 2s. 6d. below that age. Subsistence allowance is proposed to be increased by ls. to 16s. a night; and the daily rate -(when the allowance is computed weekly) by 9d. to 10s. 9d.
Boroughbridge, Great Yarmouth. Lowestoft, Melksham, -Paignton, Ripon, Stratford-on-Avon, -Torquay, Totton, Whitby and Winchester are to be raised from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
SAFE DRIVING FOR 14M. MILES QAFETY awards for 1957 were presented on Wednesday to 120 drivers of the Express Dairy Co. (London), Ltd. They collected 1,201 medals and certificates last year, when the fleet covered 14.4m. miles. The accident rate worked out at one per 66,398 miles. .
NEW TRAFFIC MANAGER
PsuCeeed Mr, F. Bryan, who is retiring on May 31, Mr.. L. J. Quilter, assistant traffic manager of the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., will become traffic manager on May 31.