Welsh Battle Over Workmen's Fares
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WTHEN applications were made to the South Wales Licensing Authority, at Swansea, on Tuesday, by eight South Wales bus companies, for a 33k-per-cent. increase in the rates for season and weekly tickets, and to abolish workmen's fares, Mr. Ivleurig Evans (Cardiff), appearing on behalf of a number of local authorities, said: It is a revolutionary step in proposing io abolish workmen's fares, and all the local authorities in South Wales are up in arms against it."
Objectors included the National Union of Mineworkers and other trade organizations, and a number of local authorities from the Rhondda Valley to Llanelly. They were represented by Mr. H. Edmund Davies, K.C., and Mr. Evans. The hearing was expected to last three days.
Mr. S. D. Herrington said that certain companies in the area had tried to produce standard rates and conditions for their period and concession tickets to meet the wishes of the Licensing Authority.
The companies wanted to remove workmen's fares to standardize the rates and conditions of weekly tickets and to extend those facilities. The proposals were that live-thy weekly tickets should be assessed on a 6d. single fare, instead of 5d. Season tickets were to be available only from one to three months, instead of up to 12 months.
Students and .scholars, who now paid
R.H.A. Plan:
S° far, the Road Haulage Association has received no strong reaction from any of the organizations to which it sent
its scheme for the denationalization of road haulage. Feeling generally seems to be that it is imprudent to comment until the Government's proposals are made known, when it will be seen how far Conservative action will align with the R.H.A.'s proposals.
The secretary of the National Road Transport Federation told "The Com mercial Motor" that the N.R.T.F. "most definitely" backed the plan and that there was no dissension over it among the constituent Associations.
A note of warning was, however, sounded last week by Col. A. Jerrett, president of the Traders' Road Transport Association, when he addressed members of the East Midlands Area in Nottingham.
If we are pinning our faith on this new Government denationalizing trans port," he declared, " we.are leading our selves up the garden path. There can be sonic alleviation, but no throwing over of the nationalized form of transport. Whatever Government is in power, the position of the C-licence holder is a hazardous one."
When the Western Area of the RR& discussed the Association's plan last week, hauliers whose businesses had been acquired attended and expressed their willingness to buy back their assets if given the opportunity. A long-distance panel was formed to watch over
No Strong Reaction
the interests of those willing to re-enter the industry. Altogether, 150 companies were either wholly or partly acquired in the Western Area. A resolution was passed pledging support for the R.H.A. scheme. •
The executive committee of the National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers con sidered the plan last week and the following statement was issued afterwards: "As the usual type of furniture removal is a segregated traffic under the Transport Act, it is hoped that in any amending legislation it will continue to be so treated, but with some modification of the definition, 'ordinary furniture removals,' in Section 125 to bring it more into line with the normal requirements of the industry."
Mr. E. Harris, secretary of the N.A.F.W.R., told "The Commercial Motor" that it was hoped that the restriction, created by the extremely strict interpretation of ordinary furni ture removals" would be eased. lobs that had formerly been a normal part of an A-licensed remover's work, such as the carriage of furniture to auction rooms, were now outside his scope.
The transport committee of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce last week "took .note" of the
R.H.A. plan. It has not yet been considered by the Federation of British Industries. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders could make no comment.