SHEFFIELD CORPORATION SEEKING EXTENDED POWERS.
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The Ministry of Health has held an inquiry into the request of the Sheffield Corporation for further powers in connection with the extension of the motor omnibus service outside the city boundaries.
The corporation first obtained powers in 1907 to supply motorbus services, and further powers to extend the routes outside the city were obtained in 1914, 1915, 1918 and 1920, and it now has an extensive service which links up Sheffield -with many outlying districts.
The Lord Mayor, who is deputy chairman of the tramways and motors committee, said it was generally admitted that the Sheffield service was one of the most efficient in the country. There had been wishes expressed by inhabitants of outlying districts that the corporation should extend its bus services to embrace those districts, and that this was .one-of the reasons that extended powers were sought.
Mr. A. R. Fearnley, the general manager of the tramways and motorbus undertaking, pointed out that the buses now run over 63 miles of roadway, 20 miles being within the city boundaries.
Considerable opposition was raised to the application by W. T. Underwood, Ltd., of Clowne. Mr. E. B. Hutchinson, managing director of this. company, said that the corismany had 62 vehicles in service, 11 of which were their own property; and thefl reMainder hired from the United Automobile Services, Ltd. • The services run over 205 miles of road, and are operated to a regular time-table, except on Saturday afternoons and similar " rush " occasions. He considered that his company had been subjected to unfair competition over some of the routes and pointed out that they have tried everything in the way of peaceful negotiation and were willing to Make any reasonable arrange
ment with the corporation authorities.
It was pointed out that the --Clowne Parish Council had passed a resolution to oppose the Sheffield Corporation's application, being satisfied as it is -with the present services provided by-Messrs Underwood.
Mr. W. Wakelim, honorary secretary of one of the C.M.U.A, divisions, stated that the Sheffield branch of the Association represented a capital of £800,000, excluding Messrs. Underwood and Messrs. Hancock. The actual number of members was 352, of whom 60 were 'proprietors of passenger vehicles owning between them 150 motor coaches and 57 omnibuses. Mr. Wakelam said that it would be a very great hardship to these people if the powers required by the corporation were granted, and that many of the smaller men would he forced out of business.
The decision of the Ministry of Health will be announced in due course, B21