PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
TRAMWAY MANAGERS' FEARS.
The Question of Bus Competition and How Tramway Exponents Think it Can be Countered.
THE SUBJECT of the effect of private motorbus -competition on municipal. tramways was discussed at the annual conference at Southport of the MuniciPal Tramways Association Oonierenee on September lffiaa.
It was decided .to take appropriate action to impress upon Parliament the necessity for granting to municipal tramway operators the measure, of [liberty to operate anotorbuses on no less advantageous conditions than those enjoyed by private undertakings. A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded' to -the Prime Minister, tam Minister of Transport, and every Member of Parliament.
In private session, several matAers of a tedlinieal nature were disc.ussed. These included the -subject of petrol supplies' and the standing of passengers in niotortbases. The latter discussion -arose out of a recent prosecution in the West Riding.. .T.he matter was left in the hands of the council.
In Ahe coarse a a paper on tramway passes' Councillor Willoughby Digby (Hull Corporation) said it was obvious that any system" of` passes which is going to give additional rides topassholders must of necessity be a loss to
• the finances of the undertakiiig unless there are some other outstanding circumstances, =oh, for instance, es a revival of trade or competition, say, with privately owned buses, which could be eliminated by these methods. The city of Hull has running over the present tramway track the services of three bus undertakings, which; at all times, take a percentage of suburban passengers, because they Can get into the centee of the city quicker than [the tramcars, and" because their fare is the same; therefore, competition arises between the owners of trams and the buses as to which .'h'all receive the riders.
" We realize in Hull," added the councillor, " that we shall have to fight to maintain the transport in our hands, that the buses cover our track quicker than the trams, that there is a strong feeling for buses rather than trams, and that the Press assist the feeling by stating that from time to time that the trams are obsolete. We mean, if possible, to make it so cheap for the riders who travel on our cars that it will be the thing to do, and that no other means of transport in the main will be able to stand against us." •
Mr. W. Murray (manager of the Walthamstow Tramways) referring to bus competition' said London had brought the matter forward for years. Nothing short of national legislation could save
the tramways. Unless they got that protection, tramways would cease to be financially profitable. The troubles in London would be the troubles in the provinces before long. The London representatives had travelled to Southport by road, and they found motorbus services all the way.
Alderman Higham (Blackburn) commented that if they wanted to kill bus competition. they would kill it far more effectively if they utilized their surplus cash to cheapen the ride for every rider instead of attempting to benefit the few at the expense of others.
Councillor Whitaker (Todmorden), referring to the competition between
tramways and bus undertakings or private vehicles operating in various districts, said if they were to have competition by companies actuated by the motive of profit only, they should have the protection theywere entitled to in the form of legislative action. In Lancashire they were being harassed by companies who had done nothing to build up that demand for road transport 'Which was in existence in various areas, and that, now it had become a paying proposition, they wanted to come in and interfere with the services the municipalities were running. They interfered on the pretext that the public required
a through service. He thought that, through the wide and powerful influence they could exert, they should take action to get the same latitude granted to local authorities as was granted to companies. Why should they be required, in certain circumstances, to promote private bills and to Ray road charges when none of these disabilities were inflicted on the companies?'
Councillor Willoughby, replying to the discussion, said it would only be original thought that would solve their problems. The pass system was in the nature of a gamble wit_i finances, but it was not introduced simply to fight the bus.. the council of the Municipal Tram. ways Association also reported on the subject of traffic regulation at tramway stopping-places where accidents frequently arise, and passed a resolution which urged that all possible steps should be taken in co-operation with the Association of Municipal Corporations to secure legislation on the lines of the proposal contained in the Manchester Corporation Bill of 1924: In this Bill, it may be remembered, it was proposed to compel all mechanically propelled vehicles to halt when approaching a stationary tramcar from which 'passengers were alighting or about to enter. The clause was struck out by the House of Lords.
For the visit of. the 300 odd delegates of the Association arrangements had been made with a company operating a large number of motor coaches, to provide transport for the delegates. Subsequently, however, the arrangements were cancelled, owing to vehicle manufacturers seizing the opportunity of exhibiting their machines and placing, them at the disposal of the delegates. Motorbuses of all kinds visited Southport for the occasion, and they were used to convey the delegates and their friends about the town and on excursions. As no cha.r.ge was made, it was not necessary to apply to the local authorities for a special licence to ply for hire.