The Favourite?
Page 58
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Bird's Eye View By The Hawk
WHOM will the Road Haulage Association elect, next r Wednesday, as their national chairman for the ensuing two years? If I were a betting man I would put my money on Mr. R. N. Ingram, who has created such a favourable impression as one of the four vice-chairmen.
He has the happy knack of expressing himself sincerely and succinctly. What greater qualification could there be for one who would spend much of his time addressing meetings? In any event, the West Midland ACea. is due to supply a national leader for the R.H.A.
Hard Hitting
I HAVE read the two papers to be submitted to the Public
Transport Association's conference at Harrogate next week and can recommend them as among the best ever presented. Admittedly, Mr. G. A. Cherry, general manager of Birkenhead Transport Department, is inclined to be discursive, but he speaks from long experience and hit.; hard 1 suspect that both he and Mr. Hollands, chief engineer of the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., will be taken to task by delegates for some of their comments, but that will be all to the good. A lively discussion is their due.
Non-mechanical Handling
HAULIERS and C-lic.Tmsees might well commend. to drivers 'five tips on handling heavy objects given by Dr. L. G. Norman, thief medical officer of London Transport.
advice, based on recommendations of the Industrial Welfare Society is this:
Take a proner hold of the object to be lifted with the palm of the hand, and not the ends of the fingers, Keep the back sulight, bending the knees if it is necessary to lift from the floor. Place the feet carefully, one in advance of the other, the float foot pointing in the direction in which the body has to move. Lifting with the feet parallel is a common cause of back strains. Arms should be well in to the sides. The weight of the body should be used to supplement muscular effort. When pushing, keep the elbows straight.
He also advises bus conductors to look after their feet by wearing good, safe shoes. At the moment, it is London's travelling public which could profit more by hints on foot care.
Too Friendly
MENTION was made in this feature on April 18 of the value MI of establishing friendly relations with the regular travelling public by scheduling bus crews to the same journey every morning. This reminded a friend of mine of an incident early in his bus career when the " parties " came to know each other much too well.
On a certain one-man-operated circular route in a remote c20
country district it was observed that receipts on what should have been the remunerative 8.15 a.m. journey to the railway station were down in alternate weeks when driver-conductor X was on duty X was a local. The obvious conclusion was drawn and my friend was sent out early one morning. to ride on the bus and see what happened. "Although I bearded at an intermediate point," he said, " I stood out like a sore thumb among the regulars. The first passenger to board was seized with an unaccountable fit of coughing, the driver was alerted to the 'presence of a foreigner. the correct fare was tendered 'and the right' denomination of ticket issued. I had been rumbled."
"I Spy Strangers" AT intervals, several other members of the company's traffic staff attempted to obtain evidence of the collusicin and defalcation which must have been going on. On one occasion a mild disguise as a hiker was tried. But always the warning cry, '1 spy strangers," was metaphorically raised, arid the suspect was never caught. In the end the management conceded a draw and transferred the man to straight driving duties elsewhere. In the fullness of time he became an exceptionally alert and conscientious inspector!
I'm All Right
DERIVE a certain amount of. cynical amusement from pro
fessional trade-union leaders who exhort members to carry on to the end of the road, on strike pay, while they themselves continue to cnjoy full salaries. Apparently they are willing to fight to the last penny of members' savings.
New Competition
DRITISH commercial-vehicle manufacturers may expect new
competition overseas from the American Chrysler organization, who are stepping up their export drive. To this end they have appointed Mr. Robert I. Burnand manager—fleet sales. He has travelled extensively in Europe and Latin America on behalf of an important supplier of components. He is now going to prove that the whole is greater than the part.
Fatherly Advice
L' VERY employee of the Simms group of companies has
received a copy of a booklet giving dispassionate advice on how to invest savings. It is an. excellent idea for encouraging thrift. But what appeals to me more than anything is the eminently fair-minded recommendation to workers not to invest all their savings in a company who pay their wages. The. Simms basket is a strong one, they say, but to distribute the nest-eggs is wiser.