KENT MINERS NOT TO RUN BUSES .
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THE Minister of Transport has dismissed the appeal of the Betteshanger Miners Mutual Self-help Club against the refusal Of the SouthEastern Traffic Commissioners to grant licences for stage services from Deal and Dover to Betteshanger Colliery. Prior to the operation of Section 26 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, the services were run without licences, but the section referred to made this form of operation illegal and licences were sought. The applications were strongly contested by the local operators, Folkestone and District Passenger Transport Association and the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association. Although the Commissioners criticized the organization of the club, they also stated that the services provided prior to its establishment were, in many respects, unsatisfactory, and they would have been prepared to consider sympathetically any well-devised scheme for the provision of additional facilities. The Minister's decision on the appeal does not prejudice the full consideration by the Commissioners of any sound scheme for the improvement or proper organization of services. for miners. From this statement it .appe;irs that the Minister is not opposed to the principle of the operation of buses by outside organizations, in competition with scheduled concerns. The club will be required to pay part of the costs.
SOUTHDOWN TOUR PLANS.
ro April 19, Southdown Motor Ser vices, Ltd., will commence its tours season with two four-day trips to Devon from Brighton and London respectively. The season will finish early in October next, the last tour being scheduled to commence on September 29. The company has arranged an attractive system of tours, extending from John o'Groats to Land's End. Prices range from £5 5s. to £36.
SINGLES AND PERIODS: BIG BATCH OF APPEALS.
ON Friday last some 20 coach operators again lodged appeals against the decisions of the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners concerning the issue of single and period-return tickets on seasonal express services from the coast to London. As reported in the issue of The Commercial Motor dated February 8, the Commissioners decided to grant a concession in this matter to certain concerns, but this has not met with a. favourable reception. Steps are being taken to have the appeals dealt with as a group.
FURTHER STAGE IN POOLE DISPUTE
BOURNEMOUTH Town Council decided, at a special meeting last week, to promote a Bill in the present session of Parliament to obtain powers to run trolley-buses to Poole. Alderman F. B. Summerbee, chairman of the transport committee, explained that Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., was promoting a Bill, with the support of Poole Corporation, seeking power to purchase from the local authority the light railway, which would be replaced by a bus system. "Poole seeks to secure powers to run into Bournemouth Square," said Alderman Summerbee, "and to pick up and set down on the route, which is within the Borough of Bournemouth. Under the respective Acts of Poole and Bournemouth, neither authority has the right to run into the area of the other authority without• that area's consent." He added that, on two past occasions, Bournemouth Corporation had wished to extend its services into Poole, but the latter authority had objected and Bournemouth had withdrawn its applications. Bournemouth's Bill is to be opposed by Dorset..County Council. . Further interesting developments may now be expected.