The Commissioners'
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Work Analysed
AN enlightening account of the early difficulties of the Traffic Commissioners, of their activities, notes on the state of the passenger-transport industry, policy in connection with the granting of licences, valuable statistics, and other important information is given in the First Annual Reports of the Traffic Commissioners, 1931-1932 (January 1, 1931-March 31, 1932), published by H.M. Stationery Office, price 2s. 6d.
They show that, during the period under review, successful appeals were made in the cases of 526 licence refusals, 322 licence grants, 460 instances of licence conditions, and one suspension of licence. The accompanying two tables have been extracted from the publication and we give notes culled from the report pf the Commissionets of each area. It should be remembered that the difference between the number of licence applications received and the number granted does not represent the figure refused, because some are withdrawn, etc.
Northern Scotland.-Applications for licences to drive public service vehicles totalled 2,966, of which 2,591 were granted, the comparable figures relating to conductors' licences being 2,150 and 1,506. To hear applications for licences and backings to 'become operative before February 29, 1932, the Commissioners sat on 59 days and 1,606 applications for road-service licences were received, 1,249 being granted.
To consider licences to become operative between March 1, 1932, and February 28, 1933, the Commissioners sat on six days and 502 applications for licences were received, 174 being granted. Of the 2,103 applications for P.S.V. licences, 1,754 were granted.
At first many local authorities did not take a pronounced interest in the Commissioners' work, but there has been a gradual change for the better in this direction. (Chairman :• Mr. H. Riches, 0.B.E.) Southern Scotland.-In this area, 7,316 applications for drivers' licences were received, and 6,464 were granted, whilst of 6,965 applications for conductors' licences, 6,189 were granted. So far as P.S.V. licences are concerned, 5,533 applications were made and 5,134 were granted, comparable figures concerning road-service licences being 3,601 and 3,037. The Commissioners sat on 85 days. It is mentioned that the question of protection for municipal under takings has occupied much time. (Chairman :-Mr. A. Henderson.) Northern-Altogether 6,089 applications for drivers' licences were made, of which 5,303 were granted, whilst of 4,795 applications for conductors' licences, 4,462 were granted. Further, 3,693 applications for P.S.V. licences were made and 3,187 were issued, whilst 1,374 road-service licences were granted. The Commissioners sat on 146 days, and about 3,500 objections were received. There are seven local authorities operating transport undertakings, and each sought to run outside its boundaries. The Commissioners refer to conferences between local authorities and operators, " protection" and the substitution of buses for trams. (Chairman :-Sir John Maxwell, C.M.G.)
Yorkshire.-Applications for drivers' licences totalled 7,618, of which 6,722 were granted, whilst the COMM1Ssioners dealt with 5,931 applications for conductors'
licences, granting 5,209. P.S.V. applications totalled 4,570, and 4,046 were issued. The Commissioners sat on 107 days, sometimes to a late hour, and 2,620 road-service licences were issued. Seventeen applications were made by municipalities for permission to run outside their areas. Interesting comments on fares are included. ,(Chairman :-Mr. J. Ferndale, C.B.E.) North-Western.-Dealing with drivers' licences, 10,824 applications were made, 9,475 were granted, 7,779 conduc
tors' licences were sought and 7,599 were granted. The total of 6,613 applications for P.S.V. licences was received, and 6,088 were granted. The Commissioners sat on 131 days and had to deal with 4,450 applications for licences and backings to become `operative before February 29, 1932, of which number 3,762 were granted. Reference is made to co-ordination, the reduction of wasteful operation, as distinct from wasteful competition, and to operation by municipalities outside their boundaries, 19 applications for consent to which were made. (Chairman :-Mr. W. Chamberlain, M.Inst.T.) West Midland.-Four applications for consent to run outside their boundaries were made by municipalities, 5,265 drivers' licences were granted, 4,059 conductors' licenceswere granted and 3,364 P.S.V. licences were issued. The Commissioners' sittings occupied 97 days, and 6,788 applications for road-service licences and backings were made, of which 5,502 were issued.. The report mentions the matters of unnecessary objections, " protection," fares and coach and bus stations. (Chairman :-Colonel A. S. Redman, C.)3., M.Inst.T., R.E.Ret.)
East Midland.-In this area 6,531 applications for drivers' licences were made and 5,788 were granted, the comparable ligures for conductors' licences being 5,389 and 4,640. The Commissioners received 4,750 applications for P.S.V. licences, of which 4,104 were granted. For the 1931-1932 period, 4,231 road-service-licence applications were made, 3,522 being granted. For 1932-1933, 1,052 applications for road-service licences were made, 715 being issued. The report mentions numerous conferences between operators and the Commissioners. (Chairman :-Mr. J. H. Stirk, J.P., M.Inst.T.) Eastern.-Of the 4,939 applibations for drivers' licences, 4,102 were successful, whilst, of the 4,174 applications for conductors' licences, 3,520 were issued (exclusive of applications by Metropolitan short-stage carriage operatives, resident in the Eastern Area). Referring to P.S.V. licences, 3,673 applications were made, 2,912 being granted. Applications fur road-service licences and backings, to become operative before February 29, 1932, numbered 3,589, of which 2,662 were granted. (Chairman :-Sir E. Haviland
South Wales.-The report refers, amongst other points, ter-conferences with local authorities and operators, and reveals that a number of applications was received from local
authorities to run outside their boundaries. Reference is also made to lengthy public sittings, which were held on 72 days. A total of 3,830 drivers' licences was granted from a list of 4,060 applications, comparable figures relating to conductors' licences being 2,450 and 2,607. Applications for P.S.V. licences numbered 2,687, of which 2,334 were issued. Applications for ordinary road-service licences, to become operative before February 29, 1932, numbered 1,7d9, 1,472 being granted. (Chairman :-Mr. A. T. James, K.C., J.P.)
Western.--The Commissioners report that 5,901 applications for drivers' licences were received, 4,751 being granted, whilst 2,953 applications for conductors' licences were made, 2,594 being issued. Of 3,761 applications for P.S.V. licences, 3,340 were granted, whilst 2,464 applications for licences and backings to become operative before February 29, 1932, were received, of which 2,133 were issued. Again' reference is made to lengthy sittings, which took place on 44 days. (Chairman :-Mr. A. F. Nicholson, 0.B.L'.)
Southern.-Dealing with drivers' licences, 5,491 applications were received, and 4,838 were granted, whilst of the 3,439 applications for conductors' licences, 3,148 were issued. A total of 3,789 applications for P.S.V. licences was made, 3,279 being granted. The Commissioners received a total of 3,710 licence applications from April to December 31, 1931, 3,225 being granted. With regard to objections generally, it is stated that the form in which these are made is often unfair to the applicant. (Chairman :-Major-General Sir Reginald Ford, K.C.M.G., C.D., D.S.O., M.Inst.T.) South-Eastern.-The Commissioners sat on 168 days, granted 4,481 drivers', 2,999 conductors', and 3,268 P.S.V. licences, the number of applications received, in the lastnamed case, being 3,938. Applications for licences to become operative before February 29, 1932, numbered 1,299, of which 1,101 were granted. In the case of licences to become operative between March 1, 1932, and February 28, 1933, 470 applications were received and 357 granted. The report mentions special conditions sought by corporations, and contains notes on excursions and tours, and on fares. (Chairman :-Mr. Rowand Harker, K.C.) Metropolitan.-Perhaps the most interesting report is that of the Metropolitan Commissioner, who gives a summary of coach and bus operation in London, prior to the Road Traffic Act coming into force, and refers to the restriction of coaches in Central London. He sat on 173 days, and, during 1931, 3,558 licence applications were received ; by December 21 last, all applications received prior to that date had been heard. Those received after that date, in respect of 1931, were heard early in 1932. Altogether, 140 applications had to be adjourned and, of the balance of 2,814 decided prior to March 31 this year, 2,101 were granted. In addition to these appliaations, a further 1,721 were received up to March 31 last, and 590 have been granted. The report mentions the difficulty involved in dealing with services to dog races and other places of amusement. (Commissioner :-Mr. Gleeson E. Robinson.) Police Report.-A report is included from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, who gives details of a number of drivers' and conductors' licences issued in the Metropolitan Area, and, amongst other things, refers to the eaelnsion of coaches in the central area of London. (Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis :-Lord Trenchard.)