RAILWAYS FIGHT FOR FOOTBALL TRAFFIC
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ALL the Macclesfield coach operators applied to the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, in Manchester, on Monday, for permission to run excursions to the Manchester City football ground. The railway companies objected to all, including applications by theii associate company, the North-Western Road Car Co., Ltd.
Mr. H. Clark, the North-Western company's traffic manager, was one of the principal witnesses against the contention of Mr. P. Kershaw (counsel for the L.M.S. Railway Co.) that this football traffic rightly belonged to the railways. He could not imagine anyone at Macclesfield thinking of the railway as a means for reaching the football ground. One train at 12.53 p.m. was too early, and the next too late.
There were seven stops en route in 50 minutes and the passengers were dropped at Longsight Station, whence they had a walk of more than five minutes and then a struggle for corporation buses or trams.
The chairman said that the Commissioners would further consider their decisions. They had, in the past, withheld permission for road operators to run to football matches in favour of the railways, and the arrangements made by the railway companies for the football crowds had not been satisfactory.
NO TROLLEYBUSES FOR BRIGHTON.
BRIGHTON Corporation's third attempt to reorganize the local transport services has failed. A select committee of the House of Lords has rejected those clauses of the corporation's Bill seeking power to replace the tramways by trolleybus services. Evidence given before the committee was reported in last week's issue.
It is stated that prominent members of the council are now in favour of 1333 accepting the offer, which was previously refused, of 20 per cent, of the gross takings earned by Thomas Tilling, Ltd., and Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., on routes now served by trams, after their abandonment.
DOVER BILL GOES FORWARD.
D0VER Corporation's Bill seeking L./power to abandon the tramways and to replace them by bus services operated by East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., has been passed by a select committee of the House of Lords to the Committee on Unopposed Bills.
TRENT CO.'S L50,000 PLANS.
EXPENDITURE on a building programme amounting to some £50.000 is being budgeted by the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd. Among the developments is the construction of a new garage at Derby to house some 55 buses. Sixty-one new vehicles are on order and at the end of the summer the company's fleet is expected to number about 365 machines.
ANOTHER "UNITED COUNTIES" STRIKE?
yJILL there be another strike of VV operatives of the United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd.? This question has arisen following a resolution passed by drivers and conductors, at Wellingborough, on Monday, to the effect that, unless material progress be made this week with negotiations conconning pay, spread-over duties and other matters, labour should be withdrawn as from to-day (Friday).
The company's employees took strike action in January of this year.
LLANELLY DEAL COMPLETED.
WE learn that Llanelly and District Electric Light and Traction Co., Ltd., which runs the trolleybuses in Llanelly, has taken over the local bus service formerly run by Gimblett's Motors, Ltd., Llanelly. We foreshadowed this deal some time ago.
GLASGOW ROUTES DISPUTE SETTLED
LAST week the Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners authorized a rearrangement of bus routes in Glasgow. Applications for the renewal of licences were made by the Central -S.M.T. Co., Ltd., Lanarkshire Traction Co. and the Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd. There were 20 applications by the Western S.M.T. Co. with regard to the Killermont Street bus station, one from the Lanarkshire concern and five from the Central S.M.T. Co. relating to the Waterloo Street station.
For Glasgow Corporation, Mr. A. L. Stewart said that the arrangements were satisfactory. The police view was that they should be revised if found to be unworkable. Glasgow Transport Department had agreed to the proposals with reluctance. It was concerned with their effect on north and south traffic in Union Street and Jamaica Street. Last year the corporation had put 100 extra buses on the road and others might be introduced.
General approval of the scheme was given by the Commissioners.
DID THE MINISTRY KNOW?
UNTIL the operators concerned • pointed out the fact, the Ministry of Transport was apparently unaware of the High Court action pending concerning the issue of single and period.
return tickets from the coast! The hearing of appeals on this subject was fixed for yesterday (Thursday), and it was not until Geo. Ewer and Co., Ltd., and other operators concerned, pointed out the waste of time and money that would be involved in hearing appeals on a matter that was sub judice, that the Ministry adjourned them sine die.
SMALL MEN MUST BE PROTECTED.
THEvalue of small operators to the public and the consequent need for the Commissioners to protect their interests were touched upon by Mr. A. T. James, K,C., chairman of the South Wales Traffic Commissioners, at Newport. An application had been heard by Red and White Services, Ltd., for leave to reduce certain fares.
Mr. James said that the application would be refused. If the Commissioners allowed a continual reduction in fares, the small operators would in time be forced off the roads. " I don't want the small operator to go off the roads," said Mr. James, " because, if he does his work properly, he is a' great public benefit.'