ASPECTS OF RAIL STRIKE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27676, 4 June 1955, Page 7

ASPECTS OF RAIL STRIKE

(Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 3. Some aspects of life in a Britain that has had drastically to change its travelling habits for the time being because of the rail strike are:— Railway officials said cleaners have had plenty of time to catch up on work and the public will now return to “really spick-and-span” trains, the “Daily Mail” said. Recently the newspapers published some complaints from readers about “Britain’s dirty trains.” Two men, who earlier this Week began a 150-mile “600 yards an hour” journey driving home to Devon in a steam-roller they had bought in Gloucestershire have cancelled the journey. They decided to give the trip up about half-way home after the steam-roller’s sparks had set fire to the thatched roof of a cottage they were passing, setting off a £4OOO fire. Three-ton lorries and coaches are being used by the Army to deal with its regular movement of troops, families, and baggage to and from Germany at the East Anglia port of Harwich. Eighteen striking engineers who had found work at £3 a day unloading potatoes from a wrecked ship were dismissed XVhen their identity was disclosed. Scotland Yard last night called on about 250 “first reserve” policemen to report for special duties in London during the strike, and an additional 150 were called up in the provinces. An appeal was also made for police reinforcements from the provinces to help control the swollen London traffic.

Transport Chairman Criticised (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 3. The “Daily Mail” today criticised Sir Brian Robertson, chairman of the British Transport Commission, for not taking a more prominent part in efforts to resolve the dispute which led to the rail strike. The Commission runs Britain’s State-owned railways. The “Daily Mail” said Sir Brian Robertson entered into discussions at only the eleventh hour and when called in by the Government. It called him “almost a lost leader,” and said: “He was a distinguished soldier—which does not mean he knows how to run a railroad.” “It could be said that because he was a soldier he ought not to be Britain’s transport boss,” the “Daily Mail” said.

“He has been accustomed to giving orders, and seeing men stiffen and stamp to attention. That is no proper training for tackling difficult questions of civilian labour relations,” the “Daily Mail” said.