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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
NEW ACT FORESHADOWED AT CROYDON DINNER
Many Well-known Personalities at a Big Function `! I UNDERSTAND that, before the
1 end of the present session of Parliament, legislation is to be introduced to amend the Road Traffic Act," said Mr. Herbert G. Williams, M.P., when speaking at the second annual dinner of the Croydon and District Motor Coach Owners Association on Monday.
Mr. Williams remarked that the whole of ,rural life had been revolutionized by the coach and bus. He added that, unless the number of fatal accidents on the road could be reduced, harsh restrictions might be imposed upon road users.
Mr. A. It Bourne, chairman of the Association, reviewed the Association's work during the past year. He mentioned that it had played an important part in the fixing of fares, had strongly opposed the restrictions on the issue of single and period-retnrn tickets on seasonal services and was keeping a watchful eye on the limitation of the duplication of long-distance coaches.
Mt. Bourne's speech was followed by one by Mr. J. R. Amphlett, LL.B., honorary solicitor to the Association, and by Mr. R. Ellis. Mr. S. D. Oddy, honorary secretary, referred during his speech to the regrettable practice of some operators of acting as common informers against their competitors.
Mr. J. B. Elliott, chairman of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, remarked that Mr. Bourne had taken an important part in the investigation of road accidents. He added that little attention was paid to the numerous occasions on which drivers saved the lives of careless pedestrians.
Major Elliott was followed by Messrs. F. A. Min and C. Thomas (vicechairmen of the M.H.C.S.A.), who both made excellent speeches. The opportunity was also taken at the dinner of presenting the prizes to the authors of the national road passenger-transport slogan, Mr. B. R. Saunders and Mr. J. E. Hughes.
In addition to the persons already mentioned, those present included Messrs. A. Gough (chairman of the South Wales Association), G. H. Hotter (secretary, Road Haulage Association), F. A. Walker, j. H. Lowe and Raymond Birch (M.H.C.S.A.), W. F. French (United Service Transport Co., Ltd.), and Henry Ewer (George Ewer and Co., Ltd.). For an Association of 26 members (owning a total of 120 coaches), an attendance of nearly 200 persons is extremely gratifying.
[It is thought that the legislation referred to by Mr. Williams will amend the contract-carriage section of the Road Traffic Act.—En.]