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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
THE LATEST NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
HEARING OF TILLING'S /3,000,000 CLAIM CONTINUES. •
ONMay 30 the London Passenger Transport Arbitration Tribunal continued to hear the claim of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., against the London Pas.sen ger Transport Board for over £3,000,000 in respect of the transfer to the Board of the London business of the Tilling concern. The proceedings on the first two days of the hearing were reported in last week's issue.
Mr. H. G. Howitt, chartered accountant, stated that he, together with Sir William McLintock, had investigated the Tilling accounts, and had reached an agreement regarding the average yearly profits, which were the basis of the main claim. Questions of principle had not, however, been considered. The agreed average annual profit during 1928, 1929 and 1930 was £153,980.
When the Tribunal resumed hearing of the claim on Tuesday, Mr. Howitt submitted that the London Traffic Act, 1924, was of greater benefit to the common-fund group of companies, as a. whole, than to the bus section. Counsel submitted that the Tilling concern derived negligible benefit from the Act, aril that the increase in the value of the Underground railways, as a result of the Act, had not been taken into account in deciding the consideration to be paid.
It was stated that the Tilling company had been deprived of most of its London business and that the small businesses, such as coachbuilding, repairing, etc., were left with overhead charges for which they' would be liable for some time.
The hearing was adjourned until the following day.
ANOTHER LONDON TROLLEYBUS ROUTE SANCTIONED.
THE Select Committee of the House of Commons further considered the London Passenger Transport Board Bill, on Thursday of last week, the proceedings up to Wednesday being reported in last week's issue.
On the proposal to convert the Crystal Palace-Sutton tram route to trolleybus working and to extend it through Sutton High Street, the district council objected that the High Street was unsuitable. The Automobile Association and the Royal Automobile Club argued that a dangerous position would be created if trolley vehicles were to turn into Sutton High Street. The solution was for the Board to acquire a site near the present tram terminus, to be used as a turning place.
In reply it was stated that if the Board were not allowed to have termini for trams and buses, except on condition of buying land, the position would be prohibitive.
The chairman said that he and his colleagues had inspected the whole route. They thought the council's objection was thoroughly justified, but that the proposed route should be sanctioned. The smallest type of trolleybus should, however, be used.
On Tuesday last, the Committee further considered the Bill, but dealt with tramway matters. Mr. T. E. Thomas, general manager of the Board's tramways undertaking, could not visualize the replacement, in the near future, of trams by trolleybuses in the Aldgate-Bow area.
MUNICIPAL JOINT COMMITTEE TRIES AGAIN.
THE Burnley, Colne and Nelson Joint Transport Committee has again applied to the Yorkshire Traffic Commisioners for permission to operate buses over certain routes. Some months ago the Commissioners granted consents to the committee in respect of two of the routes now involved, which were to he taken over from Messrs. E. Laycock and Sons. Later, however, the Minister of Transport revoked those grants.
ENTERPRISING PUBLICITY METHODS OF COACH COMPANY. A SUCCESSFUL experiment in / publicity Was last week carried out by Bourne and Balmer (Croydon), Ltd., the well-known South London coaching concern, which hired a publicaddress vehicle from Talkie Advertisers, Ltd.
It was announced from the van that the company had, on May 30, supplied 30 coaches for a private party numbering 1,000 persons. One of the cc.ncem's latest coaches followed the publicity van and advertising literature was distributed. The coach was blazoned with the slogan "The Roads Are Yours, Use Them."
£2,000,000 CLAIMS BY LONDON INDEPENDENTS.
I T is reported that, when the hearing of the claim of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., for compensation from the London Passenger Transport Board is completed, one of the principal claims by the independent concerns will be heard as a test case. The claims of the independent operators are said to total about £2,000,000. INCREASED PROFITS OF TWO IMPORTANT COMPANIES.
IN the year ended March 31, 1934, Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., which is controlled jointly by Tilling and British 'Automobile Traction, Ltd., and the Southern Railway Co., made a net profit of £81,157, which is higher by £7,679 than that for the previous year. The profit is arrived at after £120,570 is allowed for depreciation.
As £20,543 was brought into the accounts, the amount available for distribution is £101,700. The reserve account again receives £10,000, wItist the total dividend distribution on the ordinary shares is 15 per cent, which includes a bonus of 5 per cent. The carry forward is £24,200.
Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., which is also controlled jointly by the same interests, made a net profit of £39,977 in the year ended March 31, 1934 (compared with £37,583 a year earlier), after placing £61,343 to depreciation reserve.
The ordinary-share distribution is maintained at 12i per cent., a bonus of 2i per cent, being paid, in addition to the final dividend of 6 per cent. The amount carried forward is £12,356, which compares with £11,130 brought into the accounts.
JOINT CONTROL FOR TWO MUNICIPAL SYSTEMS?
MEGOTIATIONS are to be re-opened 1 '4 between Midcllesbrough and Stockton Corporations for the joint control of the transport services in both towns. Some years ago, a similar move for joint control was made, but, owing to opposition from Middlesbrough, had to be dropped.
LANCS AND YORKS OPERATORS TO FORM JOINT COMMITTEE?
FURTHER co-operation between independent coach operators in Yorkshire and Lancashire is expected to follow the united action taken last week in the sending of a joint deputation to the House of Commons.
A correspondent understands that it is intended to place inter-county cooperation on a more or less permanent footing. The formation of a Lancashire and Yorkshire committee is likely.
It is to be noted also, that, in addition to the Lancashire and Yorkshire operators, representatives of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association were present at the meeting at the House of Commons. A suggestion has been put forward for a national conference of independent coach operators. COMMISSIONER ADMITS ERROR IN GRANTING LICENCE.
AN admission that, on a previous ,occasion, the Commissioners had granted a licence in error, was made by Mr. A. F. Nicholson, chairman of the Western Traffic Commissioners, last week. Gloucester Corporation applied for consent to run a service, particularly for workmen, to 13rockworth Aerodrome, which is outside the municipal boundaries.
The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., in opposing the application, requested that the case should be adjourned sine die, pending the Minister's decision on an appeal of the colporation against another ruling of the Corn-: missioners..
Counsel for the Bristol concern stated that he would have to contend that the corporation had, according to an agreement of 1328, no right to charge workmen's fares outside its area. In opposing the adjournment, the corpora. tion's representative replied that there was no agreement in 1928, and, even if there had been one, it was rescinded by the Road Traffic Act, 1930.
In addition to running the workmen's service to Brockworth, it also sought to run special services to the aerodrome for fetes and air displays. A licence for such an event was, it was stated, granted to the corporation last year. Tlic chairman replied that the licence ought not to have been granted, because the corporation had not received " consent." There was nothing in the previous application to show that the service was to be run outside the city boundary.
After some argument between Mr. S. Billington, Gloucester's transport manager, and the Bristol concern's representative, regarding the municipal policy towards the company's fares, Mr. Nicholson announced that the workmen's service ould be permitted, but not services on special occasions.
NEWCASTLE STATION DISPUTE NEARLY SETTLED.
FURTHER step towards a settleIn.ment of the Haymarket bus station dispute was taken at a meeting, last week, of Newcastle Watch Committee, when an official statement was issued to the effect that" the basis of an agreement satisfactory to the committee has been reached."
It is thus understood that the Northern Road Transport Owners Association has accepted the watch committee's terms relating to the admission of the committee's freehole. of the Haymarket bus station and the payment of standage fees. On the other hand, it is understood the committee has agreed to redress certain complaints made by the operators.
NEW MUNICIPAL-RAILWAY BUS SERVICE PROPOSED.
FOLLOWING Halifax Corporation's decision to abandon th..: Sowerby Bridge-Triangle tram service and to acquire certain services of Messrs. Ripponden and District Motors, Halifax
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Corporation, in conjunction with the London, Midland and Scottish, and London and/ North Eastern railway companies, is to seek the permission of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners to inaugurate a bus service from Halifax to Rishworth.
" MIDLAND RED" DEAL.
IT is reported that the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., proposes to take over the undertaking of the O.K. BusCo., Burton, which runs services between Burton, Walton-on-Trent and Barton-underNeedwond.
INTER-TOWN TROLLEYBUSES.
ASCHEME for introducing a trolleyus service between Shields and Marsden, at a cost of £14,500, has been drawn up by Mr. E. R. L. Fitzpayne, the new transport manager to South Shields Town Council.
S.M.T. WAGES TO BE RAISED.
THE offer of id. per hour increase in the wages of the workers of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., has, it is understood, been accepted by the Transport and General Workers Union ; 7,000 employees are affected by the decision.
NO MORE FREE TRANSPORT?
MORECAMBE Transport Committee Mhos agreed that free transport facilities be granted to conferences already invited to the borough on that understanding, but that, in future, no other free facilities be allowed, except by express resolution of the committee,
RIBBLE PROTECTION OFFER.
PROTECTION is to be provided by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., for Morecambe Corporation on the Euston Road Station-Heysham Towers route by paying to the municipality the whole of the takings, less Sid. per bus-mile within the protected area. In the protected area between Torrishohne Cross Roads and Mayfield Garage (Bare), the corporation will receive 25 per cent. of the takings. The terms of the agreement are to be submitted to the NorthWestern Traffic Commissioners.
MINISTER TO BE ASKED TO STOP PERTH SALE.
I T is stated that the Minister of Trans
port is to be asked in Parliament to intervene in connection with Perth Corporation's decision, reported in last week's issue, to sell its transport undertaking to W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd. The sale is strongly resentkid by a section of the Perth public.
On Monday, however, the agreement between the corporation and the company was unanimously adopted by Perth Town Council.
NORTHAMPTON LOSES /2,760.
THE accounts of Northampton Corporation's transport department for the year ended March 31 show an actua.l. loss of £2,764.
NORTHERN OPERATORS'. DEPUTATION TO PARLIAMENT.
ADEPUTATION from tlit coach operators in Lancashire and Yorkshire had, as announced in last week's issue, a private interview with the local Members of Parliament, on May 30, and among the points raised was a proposal that some relief from the con-tinned opposition of the railways to licence applications by road operators should be afforded. It was asked that the railway representations should be restriaed to the presentation of their fare-tables and time-tables.
It was contended that the limitation of validity of a road service licence to one year prevented expansion of business, and that the period should be extended to a maximum of three years. Attention was called to the desirability of ensuring that decisions by the Minister of Transport on appeal should be judicial, and should not have regard only to expediency or settled policy. A public service vehicle driver should be allowed also to drive a heavy goods vehicle without the necessity of passing another exhaustive test, and his licence should be valid for three years.
A deputation of six operators and six members of Parliament is to wait upon the Minister, probably next week, to urge the limitation of the powers of Traffic Commissioners.
TEN NEW OILERS FOR CARDIFF?
CARDIFF Transport Committee is to consider the purchase of 10 Oil-engined double-deck buses, which would bring the total of oilers to 32 out of the 107 municipal buses. The aim is ultimately to use only oilers, and the anticipated annual saving on fuel cost is, on the basis of the 3,304,054 miles run by the buses in 1933-4, about £24,000, taking the bus department's figures of 2d. per bus-mile as the fuel cost of petrol buses and id. per mile for oilers.
"RAILWAYS DO NOT OBJECT TO MYSTERY TOURS."
WHEN application was made to the South Wales Commissioners for sanction to run evening mystery trips over nine routes, the representatives of the Great Western Railway Co. and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. said that the railways did not oppose the tours, provided that the routes to be followed were kept a "mystery." The Commissioners made secrecy of destination a condition.
TRAMWAYS PROTECTION NOT PERPETUATED.
TWO operators, Messrs. Eclipse Services and Messrs. James and Son, recently applied to the South Wales Traffic Commissioners for the remcval of certain conditions imposed for the protection of a tram service formerly run by the Swansea Tramways Co., Ltd., which, on abandonment, was superseded by a bus service worked by the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd. The last-named concern's , objection was unsuccessful and the applications were granted.
FEWER PASSENGERS, BUT MORE REVENUE AT NOTTINGHAM.
rvESPITE the fact that Nottingham Corporation's transport system last year carried fewer passengers, the revenue increased by £1,874 to £570,326, or 14.47d. per vehicle-mile. Economies were effected in working expenses, which decreased by £26,435 to £445,079, or 11,29d. per vehicle-mile. Repairs and maintenance accounted for £76,287 of the working costs, or £5,289 lower than in the year ended March 31, 1933.
Nottingham Corporation runs trams, trolleybuses and motorbuses, and the gross profit on the first-named rose from £28,914 to £47,309. The gross profit on the trolleybus undertaking increased from £27,671 to £31,350, whilst the motorbuses brought in a gross profit of £46,579, as compared with £40,028 in the preceding year.
The passengers carried numbered 90,355,508 (999,035 lower than in the previous year), whilst the number of miles run decreased by 351,726 to 9,461,734.
In March last the corporation ran 231 motorbuses and trolleybuses of A.E.C., Dennis, Maudslay, Karrier, Ransome, Railless and English Electric makes. Five A.E.C. oil-engined buses were on order.
FEWER COACHES AT BUXTON.
THE reduction in the number of
coaches used by Buxton operators for excursions and tours from 17 in 1928 to eight in 1934, was commented ,upon during the hearing of a licence application by Messrs. G. and T. Critchlow (Buxton) before the NorthWestern Traffic Commissioners, last week.
It was suggested that a primary reason was that visitors used their own cars. A petition in favour of the application was presented on behalf of numerous hotel and boarding-house keepers, .but opposition came from the operators already holding licences. In refusing to grant the application, the Commissioners stated that it had not been shown that the decline in the local coach business was in any way due to inefficiency on the part of the established operators.
DUBLIN BUSMEN STAGE PROTEST DEMONSTRATION.
ONJune 1, about 200 busmen, who are, or were, employed by the smaller bus companies in Dublin, marched through the streets as a protest demonstration against the compulsory acquisition of the 'smaller concerns. About 20 buses, loaned by some of the companies affected by the transfers, took part in the demonstration parade.
A deputation of busmen was received by representatives of the Irish Labour Party and the situation was discussed. The deputation stated that more than 900 men, operating about 300 buses controlled by 20 separate companies, are affected by the compulsory acquisition scheme. The Labour Party repre
sentatives assured the deputation that they would request the Government to instruct the Minister of Industry and Commerce to inquire into the whole situation.
GLASGOW'S 520,000,000 PASSENGERS.
FOR the year ended May 31, the passengers carried by Glasgow's transport system totalled 520,000,000, an increase of about 7,000,000. The revenue was £2,776,000, an increase of £36,000. A surplus in the accounts is expected.
RIB BLE TAKES OVER EIGHT MORE ROUTES.
THE North-Western Traffic Commis' sioners have transferred to Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., licences previously held by Kenyans, Coleman and Robinson, Ltd., in respect of eight routes. The eel-vices operate in the Blackpool and Blackburn areas, and it is understood that the change-over will take place on June 30.
LICENCE CONDITIONS BROKEN.
I N refusing Mr. C. F. Barnes, of Clacton-on-Sea, permission to provide additional excursion facilities, Sir Haviland Hiley, chairman of the Eastern Tiaffic Commissioners, remarked that the appellant appeared riot to have carried out any of the conditions of his licence. On behalf of Mr. Barnes, an apology was tendered for having run certain tours without authority.
The chairman stated that the action to be taken against the applicant would have to be considered by the Commissioners. He mentioned that the information had been obtained by the Commissioners' own officials. BELFAST'S HIGHER REVENUE AND LOWER COSTS.
THE annual report on the working of Belfast Corporation's bus system shows that, whilst the total revenue for the year ended March 31 represents an increase of £1,120 on last year's figure, the result of the year's working is a deficit of £5,477. The total revenue for the year amounted to £80,121.
Working expenses at £73,671 showed a decrease of £7,469 on the figure for the previous year, and produced a working profit of £6,449. To this amount was added interest from sinking fund, which brought the total working profit to £7,191. Interest and redemption contributions and other revenue charges amounted to £12,665, so that a deficit of £5,477 resulted,
The total bus-miles run during the year amounted to 1,815,465, a decrease of 73,242 on last year's figure. The number of passengers carried was 10,218,685, an increase of 300,412. The department has considerably reduced the annual deficit on the working of the bus undertaking and is planning to modernize the fleet. Fortyseven new buses are tb be purchased, 17 of which will be.delivered in July.
RAILWAY FARE REDUCED WITHOUT NOTICE.
AT a sitting of the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners, James Sutherland, Ltd., Peterhead, applied for permission to run a service between Peterhead and Aberdeen for the Peterhead holiday. Objection was made by the London and North-Eastern Railway Co. The licence was granted last year, subject to a fare of 3s., but since then the railway company had reducedits fare from 3s. to 2s. 0.1.
Mr. H. Riches, chairman of the Commissioners, said that the railway company should have disclosed the fact that it intended to reduce the fare. The licence was granted, subject to the fare being fixed at 2s. 9d.