A NEW ASSOCIATION IN THE NORTH-EAST
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Another Important Group of Independent Motorbus Operators Comes Together
ASSOCIATIONS of the smaller owners and operators of motorbuses and coaches have sprung up in various parts of the country, notably since the passing of the Road Traffic Act, and one of the latest examples is the Northern Road Transport Owners' Association, Ltd., which was recently formed at Newcastle-on-Tstne and which already has a membership of about 60 bus proprietors. Newcastle is such an important centre that, if properly managed, the association can hardly fail to develop, there being such an urgent need for co-operation and mutual protection amongst the operators in the district.
This new body virtually owes its existence to a meeting of about a dozen operators, which was held in Newcastle in the early part of October. Mr. H. Scott, of Forster, Scollick and Co., incorporated accountants, Pearl Buildings, Northumberland Street, Newcastle, a company which, in its official capacity, is interested in several bus undertakings, convened that meeting, and the object of it was to secure unity of action in connection with the Newcastle-on-Tyne Corporation's proposals
regarding municipal bus stations. The original subscribers to the present association were :—Mr. J. Orange (Messrs. Orange Brothers, Bedlington), Mr. T. Gordon (County Motor Services, Ltd., Choppington), Mr. R. Longstaff (Messrs. Geo. Longstaff and Sons, Marpeth), Mr. T. Wilkinson (Messrs. Wilkinson's Motor Services, Sedgefield), Mr. R. Robson (Messrs. Robson Brothers, High Spen), Mr. T. H. Allen (Messrs. T. Allen and Sons, Blyth) and Mr. G. Galley, of Newcastle.
Mr. Edwin Endrews, 4, Mosley Street, Newcastle, is the solicitor of the new association; Mr. H. Scott, of Forster, Scollick and Co., is the auditor ; and Mr. T. H. Allen is the chairman of the executive committee, Mr. A. Norman Brown being appointed secretary. He has his office at 12a, Northumberland Street, Newcastle (telephone, Central 6760).
Amongst the objects enumerated in
the articles of association are the collection, for members, of statistics and information, the assistance of members in respect of legal matters and actual litigation, the settling of business disputes between members, the taking on lease, or otherwise acquiring, of any real or personal property -and the construction, if necessary, of buildings, the execution of trusts,, the borrowing and investment of money, etc.
The immediate plans, apart from local matters in connection with bus stations, are to pilot members through the difficult early stages of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, particularly with reference to the certificates and licences which will be issued in the early months of this year. Already considerable assistance has been given to members in connection with certificates of insurance.
Needless to say, the question of affiliation with similar associations in other parts of the country is not lost sight of, and two members of the association attended last week's London meeting, referred to above, to discuss this matter.