PUBLIC INTEREST DEMANDS RAILWAYS?
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THE argument that the public interest would ultimately stiffer if the railways were robbed of passenger traffic by the sanctioning of reduced coach fares, was urged before the East Midland Traffic Commissioners, last week.
The United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., applied for sanction to reduce fares on the Nottingham-NorthamptonLeicester-London routes and for variations in operating times. The hearing was the fourth in connection with the application. The London, Midland and Scottish, and London and North Eastern Railway Companies and the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., objected.
Mr. J. H. Stirk, the chairman, asked whether it was not fair that the public should have the benefit of any fares reduction which the company might be able to make. It was replied that, as the public interest demanded rail. rather than road, transport, that the future of the railways should not be jeopardized by extracting passenger traffic from them.
BIG GATHERING AT M.H.C.S.A. FUNCTION.
SOME 470 persons attended the dance organized jointly by P.S.V. Operators, Ltd., and the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, in
London last week. Although the object of the function was to link the operating and agency sides of the industry, the latter was poorly represented.
Amongst those present we observed Miss V. Culverhouse, Mrs. Fingland, Miss M. Fingland, and Messrs. F. A. FIM, W. F. French, A. H. Bourne, J. H. Ewer, William Ewer, F. J. Speight, S. H. Waters, W. A. Lowe, A. J. Cordey, W. McIceag, M.P., C. J. Adams, Clifford Thomas, T. Morris, Eric Monkman, F. Monkman, A. Britten, L. Major, and Phippard-Shears.
HUGE S.M.T. FLEET.
DURING the past few years, the fleet of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., has increased considerably and it may not be generally known that the company now has -in service approximately 4,000 vehicles.
The concern's activities extend also to the trading side of the road-transport industry, and a new garage and showrooms at West Campbell Street, Glasgow, and a new 24-hour service station in Reidvale Street, Glasgow, have been opened. The company deals principally in Bedford vehicles.
The chairman and managing director is, of course, Sir William J. Thompson, LL.D., J.P., Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Mr. F'. W. Belem is general manager on the sales and service side, whilst Mr. C. S. Grant is in charge of the Glasgow branch.
CAR COMPETES WITH BUS SERVICE
AN interesting hire case was heard at Haverfordwest, when Mr. L. Williams, a Camrose hackney-carriage proprietor, was summoned for using a car as a public service vehicle without
a licence. It was stated that the alleged offences were brought to the notice of the police by the Western Welsh Omnibus Co.
the prosecution contended that the' defendant had a hackney-carriage licence, but ran the vehicle as a public service vehicle between Camrose and Haverfordwest on market days. The vehicle was hired to a person who collected fares and passed them on to the defendant.
A local farmer gave evidence that the Camrose people used to rely on the W.W.O.C. bus from St. David s to Haverfordwest. They found, however, that on market days the bus was full on reaching Camrose and when it returned for them they had lost their market. In order to avert this difficulty, the witness offered to guarantee the defendant 6s. per market day to take farmers to Haverfordwest.
The defendants' solicitor protested against the multiplicity of the summonses, of which there were six.
The magistrates, in imposing fines amounting to 30s., said that the evidence fully showed that a bus service especially for Camrose was needed.