BRIEF ITEMS OF NEWS FROM THE TRAFFIC AREAS
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Attempted Dictation by Trade Union,
Mr. J. B. Elliott, managing director of Redcar Services, Ltd., Tunbridge Wells, called together his staff of about 1100 drivers and conductors the other day and told them that those who were members of the Transport and General Workers Union must either leave the union immediately or leave his service. Mr. Elliott stated that he had been given a pamphlet issued by the district organizer of the union ; this pamphlet declared that the conditions enjoyed by employees of an opposition company Were to be secured for the Recker men without them being brought into any conflict with their management, which is most unlikely. We understand that the men, have resigned from the union.
Co-operative Society Appeals.
With regard to the announcement made on page 83 of last week's issue, concerning the refusal by the South Eastern Commissioners of licence backings applied for by the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society Ltd., for coach services between London and Herne Bay, Southsea, Bournemouth and Feignton, we are new able to make it known that the society intends appealing against these decisions.
Road-service Stations Needed.
At a recent West Midland sitting the Traffic Commissioners gave some indication of their intentions in the way of motor-coach and motorbus stations. " What the Commissioners are contemplating," Col. A. S. Redman, the chairman, said, "is something analogous to the railway station for road users." We draw readers' attention to this because it suggests the future lines of development of stations for road travel and it is likely that Commissioners in other areas will express similar views. Operators who have invested capital in stations have awaited these views. Premier Line Fights On.
The Premier Omnibus Co., Ltd., London, has been notified by the Ministry of Transport that its appeal against the refusal of the Southern Area Commissioners to grant stagecarriage licences for the operation of buses between Windsor and Maidenhead Bridge and between Windsor and Ayles bury has been dismissed. The buaes have been withdrawn from the former route. An appeal against the East Midlands Commissioners' refusal to license the latter service is pending, as announced on page 67 of our issue for last week. The company has now made fresh applications to the Southern Commissioners in respect of both routes and the hearing of these is fixed for September 15th.
Mr. Harker on Monopolies.
A few days ago the Traffic Commissioners for the South-Eastern Area made some observations upon monopolies which will be interesting to our readers. Mr. Rowand Harker, the chairman, said, "I am not going to express my opinion on the question of monopolies generally —it is more a political question—but we cannot help but recognize that properly controlled monopolies are, in the view of many people, and in ninny eases in the view of Parliament, in the public interest. One sees that in the case of all public-utility companies, such as gas, water, electricity and now, although not to such a great extent, after the passing of the Road Traffic Act, in the ease of transport. If and when the London Passenger Transport Bill passes Parliament, people will say that it is another step in the direction of control by monopolies."
A Commissioner Suspends a Licence.
Quite recently the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner suspended for a month a road-service licence belonging to Elms Longman Motor Services, Ltd., 277, Lewisham High Road, London, $.E.4, because a breach was committed of the conditions under which the licence was granted, this breach constituting the picking up of passengers in the Old Kent Road, which represents a forbidden
area. The complaint was made by another operator.
This was the first such instance to come before the Commissioner's notice, and he wished it to be a -warning to other operators. The service in question was run between London, Margate and Ramsgate.
To Discuss Licensing Anomalies.
On Monday, August 31st, some independent public-service-vehicle operators gathered together at the offices of the Premier Omnibus Co., Ltd., 2, Leysfield Road, Shepherd's Bush, London, W.12, to discuss their grievances against the administration of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.
The feeling of the meeting was that something drastic must be done to preserve the rights of operating companies, as well as to prevent the loss to the public of stage and express-carriage services, which have come to be relied upon and for which the railways and other means for travel provide no satisfactory substitute. A subsequent meeting was organized for Thursday last.