WA Transport History

Anote left to the Fremantle Library and penned in the 1980s by Stephen Jones speaks about the demise of the baggage handlers. “Customs and baggage agents form and have always formed an important function in maritime trade. The virtual disappearance of passenger ships from Australian waters has also removed the baggage and the agent from the scene. Such firms as Frank Cadd, R P North, Grace, Gill’s and Churcher employed ‘reps’ who invaded the incoming ship and ‘pestered’ strangers for business. Luggage for a fee was delivered to taxi, car, hotel, residence, railway station or wherever requested (Government-assisted migrant baggage was dealt with by contract). The weekly arrival and departure of at least two mail steamers and the ‘interstaters” was an exercise in mobility. The cessation of the splendid interstate passenger service in 1965 and the gradual withering of overseas traffic left the baggage men of Fremantle bereft of occupation. Perhaps, sometime, somewhere they would find solace????”

The following poem was also attached to Stephen Jones’ note and was probably penned by him: “The Customs Agent stood at the Golden Gate His face was long and thin He meekly asked the Man of Fate If he would let him in. ‘What have you done,’ St Peter said, ‘To gain admission here?’ ‘I’ve played with boats and music imports,’ He said as he silently shed a tear. The Golden Gate swung open wide As St Peter clanged the bell. ‘Come in,’ he said, and ‘choose your harp, You’ve had your share of hell!’”

In an advertisement held at the Fremantle Library and from a 1938 unknown edition, R P North Co Ltd, stated: “North’s uniformed man meets all boats — he is just like a friend — ready to be of service — to give a happy ending to your trip. He’ll shoulder the burden of landing, checking and dispatching your luggage to its destination.”

A lengthy appeal to a decision that “owner-drivers employed by all but one of the respondents are employees within the meaning of s7(d) of the Act” was heard this year. The earlier decision of the Western Industrial Commission came on May 22, 1981. There were eight days of hearings and 823 pages of transcripts and 24 exhibits. The Transport Workers’ Union of Australia Industrial Union of Workers, Western Australian Branch was the Appellant, while The Readymix Group (WA) and others were the First Respondent and WARTA and others the second respondent. On November 2, the judgment was for dismissal of the appeal. All papers are held by the State Records Office.

By Russell McKinnon

The TWU was still seeking a shorter week. At a meeting held on March 29, at the ARTF Industrial Relations Committee, it was felt that efforts should continue to be made for a maximum flexibility if a shorter working week was introduced and that the opportunity should be taken to obtain a stand-down clause in the award.

Dr D Hancock of Hancock Media Relations was appointed as the author/ historian to conduct all research and prepare the road transport historical book up to the completion of the manuscript at a total fee of $15,000. The book was to be 150-200 pages with 70,000-90,000 words. The cost of typesetting and printing the book was noted at $12,000. Six companies had offered a total of $12,000 towards the project. There was a delay in obtaining the full sponsorship and at the April 28 meeting, Mr T F O’Brien of Bellway Pty Ltd offered to “make up any deficiency as required”.

By 1982, the Metropolitan Transport Trust had expanded its fleet to 899 modern buses, mostly Leylands and Mercedes, but including AECs, MANs, Scanias and Hinos. Its biggest vehicles accommodate 95 passengers — 63 seated with peakhour standing room for 32 more. Perth’s buses now operate along more than 400 routes, which total 1500km. The combined distance covered annually by MTT buses is more than 41.5 million kilometres, equal to 50 return trips to the moon.

THE VOICE OF WA RURAL TRANSPORT SINCE 1980 - PROMOTING SAFETY, PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY

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