MINISTER AND LANCS BOARD PLAN
Page 51
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
" rTHE Minister has considered these
1 proposals with the sympathy and interest which the promotion of such a constructive scheme must deserve."
This is an extract from a letter which, according to a statement by the town clerk of Manchester, on Monday, he has receivedfrom Sir Cyril Hurcomb, of the Ministry of Transport, in connection with the protracted project for co-ordinating several muni-cipal transport organizations in SouthEast Lanes and East Cheshire.
Originally, 11 authorities were concerned with the scheme, but only Oldham, Manchester and Salford are now taking an active interest in it. In May, representatives of these three pioneer bodies had an interview at the Ministry.
A message received on Wednesday from a Manchester correspondent; states that the project is likely to be abandoned altogether. Whilst giving qualified approval, the Minister has pointed out that he cannot commit himself as to the advice which, on behalf of the Government, he might offer to Parliament with regard to the scheme, or the acceptance of its details, pending the embodiment of definite proposals in a, Bill, and consideration of the views of other interests.
On July 17, the future attitude of the parties to the scheme will be officially announced, but in some quarters it is held that the project is already dead.
D. A MILE FARES TOO LOW.
" vARES of id. a mile can result in 1. only one thing," ooserved Mr. A. T. James, K.C., chairman of the South Wales Traffic Commissioners, at
a Pembrokeshire sitting. "I have seen it in the past five years," he added; "people who have been doing this kind of thing have disappeared. I don't want this to happen again. Applicants must have proper fares," Mr. James said that there had been a tendency for small owners to cut fares and thus run themselves off the roads. It was much better for operators to agree upon a fair rate.
When one applicant's fares scale for mystery tours was opposed by another operator, Mr. James enjoined the parties to come to an agreement.
BUSES BEING RUN AT A LOSS.
IVTIEN W. Alexander and Sons, VV Ltd., applied to the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners for permission to reduce the frequency of its services on the Donside route from Aberdeen to Stoneywood and to Dyce, it was stated that a loss was shown on every mile of the 12,000 run each week.
Mr. H. Riches, chairman, said it was only recently that the company had secured a monopoly on the route and the Commissioners looked with some apprehension on this application.
For the Alexander concern, Mr. R. W. Currie said that a census for a fortnight in April showed that the
average service bus ran two-thirds empty and that the average earnings per mile paid only running costs, nothing being left Ink overheads.
Further evidence will be heard on September 9, when certified cop;es of the record of takings on the route for 12 months are to be produced, with a census of empty seats.