FREEDOM CAMPAIGN!
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Manchester and Liverpool join the fight • • •
T would people say if their freedom to choose a particular soap powder, or newspaper, or television set were taken away? Because this is what will happen with their choice of coach for a party outing or excursion if
J. R. W. Collins, London E5. A var., add. 2 art. 1100. R. A. Rowell, South Harrow, Middx. New B lic., 1 T. (4t lc). Muck, rubbish and aggregates, within 25 miles. Briggs Ltd., Luton, Beds. New 13 lic., 1 T. (4t 30. Excavation and roadbuilding mats., within 100 miles.
P. J. McGovern, London NW2. New B lit., 2 T. (Eld. Rubbish, refuse, sub-soil, top-soil, earth and sand, within 25 miles.
S.H.W. Transport, Horsham, Sussex. New B lic., 2 veh. 1101 10. Animal feedingstuffs. seed corn, bricks and building mats.. within 150 miles.
A. T. Emery, High Wycombe, Bucks. B var.. add. 1 T. 1440.
Minister of Transport Barbara Castle has her way."
So spoke Mr. Cliff Owen after a meeting in Preston last week of the North Western area action committee of private bus and coach operators, formed to fight the threat of being "engulfed in faceless, monolithic Passenger Transport Authorities".
Chorley coach operator Mr. Owen, chairman of the action committee and of the PVOA North Western area went on: "How would people react if they were denied their freedom of choice and also had to pay more for the one make of soap powder, television set or newspaper left? Because this is what will happen to fares if coaches are taken over.
"If the fares don't go up, the rates will," he added. Mrs. Castle had said that PTA would be able to charge their losses to local authorities.
"Nowhere has the Minister said that she expects the PTAs to make a surplus. Indeed, time and again, as if they will be inevitable, she has emphasized that losses will be made a charge on the rates. Her scheme is nothing but out and out nationalization whatever she chooses to call it."
Attended by action committee members representing the operators of some 3,300 p.s.v. vehicles in the North-West, the meeting formed local action committees for the Liverpool and Manchester areas—the first to be hit if Parliament approves the PTA plans.
Elected to the Liverpool action committee were: R. N. P. Gore (Southport and Birkdale Motor Co.); G. Mayers (Kenilworth Tours, Liverpool); J. Moyses (Sunniways Coachways, Liverpool); A.. Harding (Harding's Coaches, Birkenhead); and G. Brook (Ribble Motor Services, Preston).
The Manchester committee: F. Palmer (A. Mayne and Son, Manchester); K. S. Sidebotham (Pride of Sale Motor Tours); E. Stott (Oldham coach operators); H. Allen (Yelloway Motor Services, Rochdale); R. Bailey (LUT); and W. Leese (North Western Road Car).