Grade 2 Wages. Not to be Abolished
Page 35
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AFTER a meeting lasting from 11 a.m. until 5.40 p.m. on Tuesday, the Road Haulage Wages Council rejected the application of the employees' side for the abolition of Grade 2 wages. The employers opposed the claim. It is understood that the independent members of the Council abstained from voting on the question, but said that if they wished to do so, the employees should cite individual areas for upgrading.
Compromises were reached on two other matters. It was decided that the holiday season should extend from May 1 to October 15, whereas the Unions wished it to be from May 1 to September 30. At present it is from April 15 to October 15.
The Unions claimed time-and-a-half payment for all overtime. Instead, the Council awarded time-and-a-half for all overtime worked on Saturdays.
INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE: NO CONCESSION
DURING the committee stage of the Finance Bill on Tuesday, Conservative back-benchers moved an amendment to modify the ending of the investment allowance in the case of sc hem es of capital development embarked on before the allowances were terminated. But the Government would make no concession.
The result is that if a chassis was ordered before February 17, but a body was ordered after that date, only the chassis would rank for investment allowance although it would be of no practical use without the body.
NEW INSTITUTE TO IMPROVE DRIVING improve the standard of driving
and promote road safety are the chief' objects of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, which was launched on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Lord Sempill. It is a nonprofit-making organization.
The Institute is to conduct, from 10 centres, an advanced test of two hours' duration, ranging from busy shopping streets to winding country lanes. It will have its own examiners. The fee will be 12 2s. and the annual membership subscription is 10s.
Commercial-vehicle drivers arc eligible for membership as individuals, but later the Institute hopes to turn its attention more closely to them and to devise a suitably adapted test.
ALD. WATTON STAYS CHAIRMAN
A BID by Conservatives to oust Aid. E -1 Harry Walton from the chairmanship of the transport committee was defeated by a 68-56 vote at Tuesday's meeting of Birmingham City Council. Ald. Watton, who has been re-elected for the fifth time, was the architect of the " Id. on week-end fares" plan (see page 416).