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THE LATEST NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS

MORE PASSENGERS CARRIED ON I.F.S. BUSES.

OFFICIAL statistics of bus services for September, issued by the Irish Free State Government, show that the increase in the number of passengers carried on internal bus services during the first eight months of this year continued in that month.

During September, 7,978,000 passengers were carried on wholly internal services (7.301.000 in September, 1933), whilst 2.516,000 vehicle-miles were run, a decrease of 142,000 on the figure in 1933. Gross receipts, however, amounting to £105,483, represented an increase of £1,672 on those of a year ago. The returns for cross-border services show that 143,000 vehicle-miles were run and 177,000 passengers carried, yielding £6,032 in gross receipts. The figures for the same month of last year were 205,000 vehicle-miles, 201.000 passengers and £8,729 gross receipts.

During the first nine months of this year 22,631,000 vehicle-miles were run on internal services and 68,609,900 passengers were carried, as compared with 22,806,000 and 62.287,000 respectively in 1933. The total receipts amounted to £873,116, an increase of £43,898. This year's returns for cross-border services show that 1,221,000 vehicle-miles were run, 1,456,000 passengers carried and £48,175 in receipts collected, as compared with 1,756,000, 1,663,000 and £76,499 respectively during the period from January-September, 1933.

The total gross receipts from coach services during September amounted to £3,279, and for January-September were £22,206, ELECTRIC CONTROL AT NEW COACH STATION.

AFEATURE of the new coach station at Winchester, built by the corporation, is that assivals and departures are controlled frcm a special watch tower by means of an . electrically operated indicator, the timings being regulated by electric clocks. One main switch controls the whole of the lighting, with three separate switches for the "stop" and " arrow " signals.

The indicator, which is of special G.E.C. design, is double-sided, with arrows indicating the numbered bay which coaches are to occupy while waiting in the semi-circular space surrounding the station and control tower. The luminous signals are constructed so that they are as clear in sunshine as they are after dark. FINGLAND-MAJESTIC CO-ORDINATION PLAN FAILS.

THE applications of an independent concern, Fingland's Hire Cars, Ltd., and a railway-associated undertaking, Majestic Express Motors, Ltd, for permission to co-ordinate their London-Manchester services during the winter months, were refused, last week, by the Metropolitan Traffic Comnaissioner.

As foreshadowed in The Commercial Motor on October 26, the companies sought permission to run only one machine, by arrangement between the two parties, if the traffic did not warrant the operation of a coach by each concern, and to make one or two other modifications to existing procedure.

The Commissioner remarked that, under such a scheme, no proper control could be exercised over the operators, He added that the services to the north-west had not been reduced in the same way as had some others, and he would have to consider what measures were necessary to reduce them to meet the public needs, Concerning the application to lower the return fare on the night service from 25s. to 23s., the Commissioner ruled that a reduction in railway charges was not a sufficient reason for bringing down coach fares.

COACH FARES LOWERED TO MEET RAIL COMPETITION.

DESPITE opposition from the London and North Eastern Railway Co., United Automobile Services, Ltd., was, last week, granted permission to reduce fares on the Scarborough-Middlesbrough route. The application was stated to have been made in view of alterations in the railway fares.

The L.N.E.R. representative pointed out that the company had endeavoured to make its fares commensurate with the coach charges, and pointed out that the railways were bound by regulations.

The U.A.S. representative mentioned that the railways appeared to be able to charge any excursion fare that they pleased. If the railway company would give some undertaking not to alter fares, the two parties could reach some better arrangement. For the L.N.E.R.

it was submitted that the excursion rates could not be compared with regular-service fares. The application was granted.

CONSIDERATION FOR RAILWAY.

SURPRISING consideration for a railway company was shown by the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., at a sitting of the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners.

There had been a public agitation for lower fares on the company's service from Dundee to Birkhill and Muirhead. The S.M.T. representative explained that the railway company was affected by the bus fares, which, if based solely on. mileage, might result in the railway branch line from Dundee to Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus being closed down, c52 • Mr. Henry Riches, chairman of the Commissioners, asked whether that was in the public interest. In reply, it was stated that the S.M.T. recognized the railway company's difficulties, and, for that reason, had not taken the matter into its own hands. Mr. Riches then remarked that, if the two parties could not come to an agreement, the Commissioners would decide the matter on the merits of the case and in the public interest.

EXPERT TO SOLVE POOLE TRANSPORT PROBLEMS?

FURTHER developments are reported in connection with the transport negotiations at Bournemouth and Poole. Bournemouth Corporation supports the suggestion of the Ministry of Transport that an expert should be consulted on the question of transport for the whole area, and proposes that the Minister should be asked to nominate the adviser, his recommendations to be binding upon the corporations.

The Bournemouth authority has also agreed to guarantee Poole Corporation a minimum of R3,500 a year in respect of capitation fees for the running of trolleybuses and motorbuses in the borough of Poole.

Poole Council has referred back to the transport sub-committee the recommendation that the expert should be appointed, but that his advice should not be binding and that his selection should be arranged between the two councils.

LIMITS ON PICKING UP IN NORTHERN SCOTLAND.

AT at sitting at Cupar, the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners approved 570 bus halts in Fife, with the exception of a few which they are to visit and decide upon after examination. In built-up areas passengers shall not be taken up or set down except at the points specified, but in country districts they may be taken up or set down between specified points.

CROSVILLE COMPANY'S STRONG POSITION.

AT the annual staff dinner of Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., Mr, C. C. Taylor, managing director, said that last year the company carried 68,000,400 persons and ran 26,540,000 miles, using 3,250,000 gallons of petrol and 66,000 gallons of oil. The concern had 1,000 road service licences, the largest number in the North Western Area. There were 2,500 employees at the height of the summer season, and the company dealt with 150 local authorities and had 3,500 miles of routes. The company had applied for 2,000 alterations in the routes during the past year.

During the past year a fair number of concerns had been taken over, and many who were present that evening had, in the past, been among the concern's fiercest competitors.

Mr. J. R. Morris said Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., was a romance of transport. It had its small beginning in 1906. In 1930, the Great Western Rail way Co. took an interest and the new company was formed with a capital of £800,000. The next transaction of a large character was the buying out of the Western Transport Co., and now the capital had been increased to £1,000,000, with 900 vehicles on the road.

Mr. C. S. Percy, of Leyland Motors, Ltd., said that his concern had supplied more than 1,000 vehicles to the Crosville company.

MORE YORKSHIRE PURCHASES?

FURTHER developments in the Yorkshire Area arc foreshadowed by certain applications to the Traffic Commissioners for the transfer of licences. The Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., Barnsley, is seeking the transfer of the licence for the Doncaster-Skellow service of B. and E. Coach Services, Ltd., a concern owning some 12 vehicles.

The West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., Yorkshire (W.D.) Electric Tramways, Ltd., Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd.. and East Midland Motor Services, Ltd., jointly, are applying for the transfer of the. licences granted to London, Midland and Yorkshire Services, Ltd., for services from Halifax to Doncaster and Bradford to London. LIMITED DUPLICATION ON CROSS-COUNTRY SERVICES?

AT the sitting of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, on Monday, the. London and North Eastern and London. Midland and Scottish Railway Companies sought to have the Minister's duplication ruling concerning trunk services, applied to limited-stop express services from Liverpool to Newcastle and Redcar.

The coach companies concerned were the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., Yorkshire (W.D.) Electric Tramways, Ltd , Laucashire United Transport arid Power Co., Ltd., and United Automobile Services, Ltd. The Commissioners reserved their decision.

WELL-KNOWN MEN AT OXFORD FUNCTION.

WELL-KNOWN personalities in the YV bus-operating and manufacturing branches of the industry were present at the annual dance of the City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd., last Friday. Mr. R F. Dixon (general manager) and Mr. J. A. Paenell (chief engineer) received the guests. Those present included Messrs. B. Homfray Davies, M. R. Pease, A. S. C. Chatty, A. S. Bishop, H. and L. Gotta, J. Mills, A. T. Froggatt, J. Henderson, C. Bracewell, A. Franks and E. S. Hollands.

NEW BRIGHTON'S BID FOR COACH TRAFFIC.

IT was announced at a meeting of the I New Brighton Trade Development Association that letters had been sent to 500 coach companies, suggesting the desirability of regular daily services to New Brighton from south-west Lancashire and the Midlands. The Association offers to assist coach operators in securing licences.

Mr. A. Panagakis, who presided, said that a silver cup would be awarded to the company which brought the largest number of people to New Brighton during the early part of next season, and there would be a prize of £10 for the driver. It was also intended to give a prize of 5,000 gallons of petrol.

REDCAR APPEAL POSTPONED.

T"Eappeal of Redcar Services, Ltd., against the granting of licences to London Transport in the South Eastern Area, has . been postponed from November 19 until December 3, and will be heard at the Ministry of Transport at 10 a.m.

LONDON INDEPENDENT OPERATOR CLAIMS £67,440.

THE London Passenger Transport Arbitration Tribunal continued, towards the end of last week, the hearing of the claim of the Renown Traction Co. for compensation for the transfer of its undertaking to the Board. The company claims £67,440 in stock, to yield an annual income of £3,3'72.

This figure is obtained by the .capitalization of the profits during the years 1930-32, which are stated to have averaged £3,476 per annum, The Renown company's profits were said to be more maintainable than those of the old London General Omnibus Co., Ltd. Sir Maurice Jenks, the first witness, supported the principle et the claim.

£20 FINE FOR USING SUSPENDED VEHICLE.

LIOR using a public service vehicle 1 that was under suspension by the Traffic. Commissioners, Bury Corporaflan was, last week, fined £20. It was stated that the vehicle in question had been suspended twice in 24months, For the corporation, it was explained that the vehicle had been used by mistake and that steps had been taken to ensure that the offence was not repeated in future.