Mr. Alexander Claims £600,000
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AFTER a four-day hearing in Edinburgh, the Transport Arbitration Tribunal last week adjourned until November 24 the case of Mr. Charles Alexander, Aberdeen, who disputed with the British Transport Commission the amount of compensation due to him for the nationalization of his companies. Mr. Alexander's companies were Fraser Road Transport Services, Ltd., Pratt's Road Transport, Ltd., and Messrs. Charles Alexander, Each had offices in Aberdeen and were acquired on March 27, 1949.
Mr. H. R. Leslie, for Mr. Alexander, said that in 1926 Mr. Alexander acquired .a half share in a lorry. In 1939 he had 60 vehicles, in 1943 about 81, and at the date of the transfer 121 vehicles and 30 trailers. His average
net annual profit was £85,140. He claimed f608,171 compensation, whereas £472,127 was offered by the B.T.C.
Mr. D. L. Edward, the former secretary and commercial manager of Mr. Alexander's group, said that a policy of reconditioning the fleet had been followed before nationalization in the knowledge that it could be of benefit only to British Road Services. Mr. J. B. Has tie, Scottish divisional manager of B.R.S., told the Tribunal that the fleet was in good condition when it was taken over.
BUSMEN'S PAY TALKS STILL GOING ON
THE National Council for the Omnibus Industry are expected to meet soon to hear the report of a conciliation committee on the demand for higher pay for some 100,000 employees of provincial bus companies. As reported last week, the pay claim was recently rejected by the employers' Side of the council.
A demand for higher pay for 77,000 bus workers in municipal undertakings is to be considered today by the wages committee of the National Joint Industrie) Council for the road passenger transport industry. A meeting of the full council will follow that of the committee, and if no agreement is reached the claim will probably go to. the Industrial Court, • The board of conciliation appointed by the Minister of Labour to help the London Transport Executive and the Transport and General Workers' Union to reach agreement on wages, working hours and a sick-pay scheme, held their first meeting on Monday. A series of meetings was still taking place when The Commercial Motor closed for press.
ESSOS Mt. RESEARCH PLANS MEW engine testing, analytical, inspection and research laboratory facilities are included in £1m. plans to extend the European laboratories of the Esso Development Co., Ltd., near Abingdon, Berks.