Preservation of Established• Rights Vital to Passenger Operators
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/N times of emergency it is inevitable that recognized services of all kinds may occasionally be suspended. In many parts members of the public are hardened to the realization that the daily 'round is not what it once was. Almost subconsciously the would-be customer, user or passenger, allows a certaiin amount of grace, but alternatives must quickly be found, for, if the provider of a particular service fails, some temporary expedient may become a permanency.
In any event, the licensing provisions as applied to passenger road transport make any lapse of operation a matter of considerable danger to the licensee, a danger that is increased by the unlikelihood of being able to obtain suitable replacement vehicles.
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, In order to safeguard the interests of the independent owners who are unlikely to have large reserves of vehicles to draw upon, a "Pooled Resources" Scheme has been instituted to Cover the North-western Traffic Area. This plan has been evolved by the C.M.U.A. North-western Division and details have been circulated to other districts so that similar organizations can be brought into being and, possibly, wider exchange facilities Created, if necessary.
The underlying principle is simple enough, but a substantial amount of detail work has been carried out, so that any emergency switch-over shall result in the minimum of interference with regular operations and existing business arrangements.
Apart from assistance from the pool
of vehicles, there is also to be a fund which will be available as a means fort giving temporary financial aid to members and thereby help them in continuing their operations. All this is to bedone on a basis that should not involve any undue strain on the supporters of the scheme. The plan is, of course, available only to P.S.V. members of, the C.M.U.A.
• Each operator participating has to give an undertaking to supply vehicles to the pool, as required by the executive committee. Subscription on entry is at the rate of £1 per vehicle per annum, but in the case of members joining more than 12 months after the commencement of the scheme an entrance fee may be charged,if this arrangement appears equitable at the time.
In addition to such subscriptions and fees a further levy, not exceeding £2 per vehicle in any one year, may be made if such additional revenue be considered necessary in the interests of the scheme; this additional amount is payable on one month's notice, The executive is not empowered to require subscriptions in excess of £3 per vehicle per annum, except by the decision of a general meeting. An operator who wishes to resign may do so by giving three months' notice. However, any member resigning on account of a decision of a general meeting materially to alter the objects of the scheme, or to increase the subscription over £3 per vehicle, may resign immediately after any such decision and can claim repayment of a pioportion of subscriptions previously paid. The amount would bear the same proportion to the funds at the time of his resignation as the member's previous subscriptions bore to the total subscriptions paid.
Upon joining the " Resources Pool,' the entrant fills up a form giving the registered number, make, date and general description of each machine in his possession. For the purpose of calculating the hiring fees applicable, he also indicates the cost price. The capital value of each vehicle is regarded as being cost diminished in accordance with an agreed depreciation scale. which is varied, as the executive committee may decide, after examining the machine for improvements or reconditioning which might have increased the value as compared with the figure indicated by the scale.
The secretary of the pool keeps a register of all these machines. Members owning vehicles which are not taxed. or are temporarily out of use, or which they wish to offer for hire, may also register them in a special section and the executive will exhaust all these machines so offered before calling upon the quota requirements.
Any member suffering—through war operations—the loss of vehicles, or such severe damage as to prevent their operation for a period, will apply to the executive for a loan from members of the " Resources Pool." Such applications will be immediately examined and the executivemay decide that the machines required shall be provided by designated members of the pool, on specified terms of hire. " Provided vehicles" are to be used by the applicant for the continued operation of his P.S.V. services as carried on before the damage was inflicted. The terms of hire will be sufficient to cover the owner against standing charges, maintenance, and profit in accordance with a schedule to be prepared by the executive. The scheme will be covered against management costs at the rate of 2s. Scl. per vehicle per day during the period of hire. The terms of hire to the hirer are to be on fiat rates for standing charges, maintenance, profit and pool management, as shown in the accompanying summary.
The terms of hire to the hirer may be higher or lower than the terms of hire to the owner. Any difference will be adjusted by the " Resources Pool," which guarantees all payments to the owners.
After deciding how many machines are to be provided to any applicant for assistance, the executive will be entitled to call on any member to provide vehicles for the necessary period, the demands being in due proportion to the member's vehicle strength, as compared with the total vehicle strength of the pool. All reasonable steps are being taken to avoid disturbance of existing arrangements and, to this end, machines temporarily or seasonably out of use, not licensed, or specifically offered by members, will be employed for a start.
The quota that may be demanded by the executive will not be more than a quarter of any member's vehicle facilities.
The management of the " Resources Pool" is in the hands of an executive. of seven members, and it is understood that a substantial number of operators has already made application to be incorporated in the organization.
By the provisions of the scheme any effect of enemy action will be cushioned and the shock to the transport system taken up over a wide area, thus assist ing the travelling public as well as the owners. Experience has proved the need for arrangements of this nature, and the prospects of a national scheme developing are considerably enhanced by the setting up on concrete conditions, instead of vague help-your-neighbour proposals.