ONE-MAN BUS OPERATION

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29165, 28 March 1960, Page 12

ONE-MAN BUS OPERATION

“Impracticable” In Australia Everybody connected with public passenger transport in Australia acknowledged that one-man operation of buses and trams in congested city areas was impracticable and uneconomic, said Mr P A. Hansen, national secretary of the Tramway and Public Passenger Workers’ Union, on bis ■ rr to Christchurch 'ast ever ng after a month’s v .sit to Australia. Mr Hansen said the growing antagonism to one-man operation of buses and trams by tl ->se employed in New Zealand's public passenger transport services had caused his union to send him to Australia to study the question there. He visited Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Sydney, spending a week in each city studying their public passenger transport systems. “In not one ot those centres was there any attempt made to handle public passenger transport by one-man operation during peak loading hours.” Mr Hansen said. Congestion at peak periods in the Australian cities was caused by traffic holding up the buses, and not bv the buses holding up the traffic, as ocurred in New Zealand. Mr Hansen said “I have a mass of evidence, notes, and facts which I will be collating, and I will be presenting a report to my national executive shortly.” Mr Hansen said An interesting feature ot Australian awards for public passenger transport workers was the much higher long-service bonus paid than in New Zealand. Mr Hansen said It had recently been increased from 3s to 7s 6d a week, with further increases at five-yearly intervals. The bonuses were paid in the hourly rate “After 25 years’ service, a worker is now getting 18s a week in long-service bonus There is thus incentive for a man to stav on the job and gain experience." Mr Hansen said Leanne Test Drawn.— Britain and Erance drew their Rupbv league international. 17-17. at St. Helens today. Each side scored four goals and three tries.—London, March 26.