Operating Aspects of Passenger Transport
Page 30
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BUS STRIKE THREAT AT GLASGOW
FOLLOWING the decision of the 1 employees of Glasgow Transport Department to apply to the executive of the Transport and General Workers' Union for permission to take strike action in the event of the corporation deciding to suspend Saturdays as a booking-off day and refusing to amend time-running schedules, Bailie David S. Brown. convener of .the corporation transport committee, stated that bus and tram drivers and conductors were apparently under a misapprehension.
If the corporation decided to adopt the recommendation of the Transport and Conditions of Service Committees to suspend the booking-off. on Saturdays, the decision would be subject to review by the Joint Industrial Council, to which the corporation was a party, and on which the Union was represented. There was, therefore, no need for the men to state that they were • being coerced or threatened, as the procedure adopted by the corporation was in accordance with the Joint Industrial Council machinery.
Referring to the time schedules, Bailie Brown said that these were now being revised by officials of the transport department, and they would welcome any suggestion by the Union likely to lead to improvements. He claimed that more than 90 per cent. of the employees were giving the department whole-hearted support and co-operation, and that a small majority was responsible for most of the criticism.
The Lori Provost of Glasgow, Mr. P. J. Dollan, in an appeal to both sides to have a commonsense talk, said that there was no need for a strike, or even the threat of a strike, as everything could be adjusted by agreement. New schedules adjusted to summer-time conditions would be in operation in two or three weeks' time. There were undoubtedly many difficulties which might be overcome with greater co-operation than at present existed.
Both sides, Mr. Dollan pointed out, must remember that they were servants of the public and should remember that The interest of the public must be the paramount consideration.
JOINT COMMITTEE REVISES FARES
SOME days ago Burnley, Colne and Nelson Joint Transport Committee sanctioned a scheme of revised fares for submission to the Traffic Commissioners. Since the outbreak of war the undertaking has lost £700 a week in revenue. Fares above 2d. are to be increased by -1c1. and certain 2d. fares
raised to 21d. Stages generally will remain the same, but, in some Instances, the 2d. stage will be short
ened. There are also to be adjustments in workmen's fares.
Councillor John Widdup, Nelson's finance chairman, explained at a meeting of the town council that the net traffic revenue receivable for the year from the joint transport committee showed a reduction of £1,000 against the estimates. For the forthcoming year it was hoped to realise the original estimate for 1939-40. The reduced income of £1,000 converted an estimated rate aid of £700 into a rate charge of £300. Fortunately there was .a reduction in loan charges -for the forthcoming year, thus enabling a profit of £2,840 to be transferred in aid of rates.
NEW MIDLAND "RED" FLEET
A BATCH of 50 of the latest-type 1-A38-seater, single-deck, oil-engined buses is now being completed by the Birmingham and Midand Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. Details of these vehicles will be included in our next issue.
COACHING MANAGER'S MATH
THE death has occurred, at the age of 65 years, of Mr. Richard Arthur Moore, who had been manager of the Clacton office of George Ewer and Co., Ltd., operator of the Grey-Green coaches, Mr. Moore was also owner of Moore's Booking Offices, High Street, Colchester,' which business is now being carried on by his son, Mr. C. A. Moore.
IRISH BUS SERVICES EXPAND
STATISTICS just issued show that, in February, in the Dublin area, 9,068,000 passengers were carried in buses, contrasted with 6,400,000 in February last year: Passenger receipts amounted to £70,904, compared with £56,100, and the vehicle miles run were 1,377.000, as against 1,185,000.
in the Cork City area passengers increaz.ecl from 1,177,000 to 1,276,000. On other internal services there were slight reductions in both passengers and receipts, although 32,000 more miles were run.
BUS SHORTS Blackpool Corporation has Obtained sanction to borrow £10,194 for the extension of the Rigby Road bus depot.
Cardiff Transport Committee has approved a revised estimate of £5,900 for the provision of facilities for the operation of trolleybuses on the Cathedral Road-Clarence Road route.
Proposals to increase Nottingham bus fares, to bring in an added income of £30,300 a year to the passenger transport department, have been sanctioned and the new rates will operate as from Sunday, April 14.
At a meeting of Blackpool Town Council Alderman J. Potter said that owing to a shortening of the season, by the absence of autumn. illuminations, transport receipts of £490,000 were £33,000 less than estimated and £30,400 lower than the previous year.
The transport of passengers into Nottingham by non-Corporation buses at double the municipal fare is the reason for a protest, which is to be pursued in other quarters than the liegional Transport Commissioner, by the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce.
DARWEN DISPLACES MORE TRAMS
FOLLOWING . the delivery of 10 double-deck buses, Darwen Corporation has replaced trains by buses on the Bolton Road section. It was originally planned to effect a complete change-over to buses by April 1, but the project had to be abandoned through the outbreak of war, and on some sections trams were brought back into operation.
The poor state of overhead equipment in Bolton Road made it inadvisable to operate a tram service any longer, and the necessary sanction for the substitution of belies was obtained.
At peak periods, buses will augment the skeleton tram service on the Blackburn-Darwen route.
TRANSPORT AIDS RATES AT BOLTON s rrHE question of grants in aid of 1 rates recently came before Bolton Town Council when Alderman Bradley, chairman of the transport committee, said that the transport undertaking was in a position to make a grant, If the department lost money it would come on the rates. Therefore, if it made money it should give some relief. The transport committee recommended £10,000 in aid of rates, against £20,000 last year and this was confirmed after a discussion.
STOCKTON'S DEPUTATION TO THE COMMISSIONER
AT Stockton-on-Tees the town council has decided to send a deputation to the Regional Transport Commissioner to discuss the council's proposals to buy another 11 motorbuses. The Commissioner has, up to the present, agreed to six new vehicles.
At a meeting of the town council it was reported that a letter had been received from the Commissioner stating that he understood that of the 60 vehicles in the corporation's fleet, 24 had been brought into service since the beginning of 1938. It would appear, therefore, that the undertaking required only normal replacebents and the Commissioner could agree to only six new buses.
PROFITS OF BIG BUS-OPERATING CONCERNS I N 1939 the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., made a profit of £318,951, compared with £246,344 in 1938. After deducting £50,000 to reserve and paying an ordinary dividend of 10 per cent„ phis a bonus of 5 per cent., the carry forward is £111,050, contrasted with £76,098 brought in.
TitNorthern General Transport , Ltd., made a net profit of £178,315 in 1939, compared with £181,578 in the previous year. Reserve receives £50,000 and employees' fund £3,000, whilst a dividend of 10 per cent, is being paid on the ordinary shares. The carry forward is £72,232, against £49,526 brought in.