THE LATEST NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
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SETTLEMENT OF NEWCASTLE STATION DISPUTE LIKELY?
A FTER 12 months during which L'Anegotiations have been opened and broken off, there are signs of a settlement in the dispute between Newcastleon-Tyne Watch Committee and the Northern Road Transport Owners Association, respecting the operation of the Haymarket bus station.
It is understood that the bus operators are willing to pay off the arrears • of standage dues, which now amount to veil over £700, but they ask for certain concessions and for the redressing • of various grievances. Several months ago the watch committee refused to s open negotiations for a settlement, . because the operators would not pay standage dues until certain grievances were remedied.
Last year over 300 operators, bus drivers and conductors were summoned, but the matter was held over until a decision of the High Court was obtained. This, it is understood, was fixed for some time in June.
The requests now placed before the • watch committee are that the standage fees should be reduced to the level of those of a competing concern using the Haymarket ; that loading platforms . should be allocated by destinations, and that obstructions should be removed.
• NO TROLLEYBUSES IN • BEDFORD SQUARE.
THE House of Commons Select Committee which is considering the London Transport Bill decided, last Tuesday, without calling on the opposition, that it would not sanction the operation of trolleybuses in Bedford Square.
This decision did not wholly remove the objections of the opponents, who wish to prevent trolleybuses from running down Tottenham Court Road. The Committee announced on Wednesday that they should stop at Bayley Street.
MINISTER BANS " SINGLE S " AND "PERIODS" FROM COAST.
THE Minister of Transport has up
held the action of the South-Eastern` Traffic Commissioners in prohibiting the use of single and period-return tickets on seasonal express services from the coast to London.
This decision has been made as a result of appeals on the question by Messrs. W. and, J. Britten, United Service Transport Co., Ltd., Valliant Direct Coaches, Ltd., and the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society, Ltd., in connection tvith daily services operating for about six months of the year from London to Bognor and Brighton.
The Royal Arsenal undertaking also appealed against the restriction on the issue 'of day-return tickets from the coast, but this was withdrawn at the hearing. The United Service concern withdrew that part of its appeal regarding the issue of period-return tickets from the coast, The Minister has dismissed the appeals and the appellants are to pay the costs.
It is stated that the number of period-return and single tickets issued on these services from the coast is admit. In the opinion of The Commercial Motor, however, the principle involved is important. These appeals were made to obtain from the Minister of Transport a ruling on the interpretation tO be placed on the "Croydon." case.
LEYLANDS TO REPLACE TRAMS.
THE date for the replacement of the last Middlesbrough • tramcars by buses has been fixed for June 10. Fifteen Leyland buses have been ordered.
£1,087 LOSS AT EXETER.
THE transport committee of Exeter
HE reports a gross profit on the undertaking, last year of £16,841, but after meeting loan charges and making contributions to capital outlay, there is a net loss of £1,087. Fifty-five, per cent. of the capital outlay of £69,658 in respect of motorbuses has been redeemed or provided for.
Sixty-three corporation drivers were entered in the freedom-from-accident competition organized by the National "Safety First" Associatinia, and two received bars to their silver medals and 61 obtained diplomas.
UNITED COUNTIES CO. WINS APPEAL.
THE Minister of Transport has upheld the appeal of the United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., against the action of the West Midland Traffic Commissioners in restricting the company's Northampton-Birmingham express service to operation during July, August and September. The service is to be run from March 29 to September 13. It was stated that the service, was about to be taken over from Messrs. Allcbin and Son.
ALLEGED UNDERCUTTING: LEGAL ACTION SUGGESTED.
AN application by the Rover Bus Co. to replace its existing 32-seater buses on the Kingsgate-Torry route by 40-seaters has been successfully opposed by Aberdeen Corporation. Mr. Fraser, Aberdeen's town clerk, stated that the Rover company was undercutting the corporation.
The Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners, in refusing the application, suggested that the town council might take legal action.
"MIDLAND RED" WORKERS ' SEEK HIGHER WAGES.
EMPLOYEES of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., are seeking an all-round increase of 2d. per hour in the wages of all grades of • worker. Furthermore, they ask for a guaranteed 48-hour six-day week and certain allowances.
PERTH TO SELL TRANSPORT SYSTEM TO ALEXANDER'S.
THE proposed sale of Perth Corporation's transport undertaking to W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., Falkirk, aroused considerable feeling in Perth. A Ratepayers Protest Association has been formed with the object of opposing the project.
Nearly 500 ratepayers attended a protest meeting on May 27. It was pointed out that the undertaking had shown a profit of £20,000 over the past five years and that for the offered price of £22,000 dmin, plus £1,500 yearly for 20 years, the Alexander concern would obtain a 'garage recently built at a cost of £15,000, four practically new double-deck buses and 28 other vehicles. The proposed deal was unanimously condemned.
On Tuesday night the town council decided, despite the opposition of the ratepayers, to sell the undertaking to the Alexander concern.
YORK TRANSPORT AGREEMENT: LICENCE TRANSFERS.
APPLICATIO.N is being made to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., and York Corporation, jointly, for the transfer of 14 licences at present held by the corporation and two licences granted to the company. This application gives effect to the transport agreement reached between the two parties.
Tourist Motor Coaches (Southampton), Ltd., is seeking from the Western Commissioners a backing granted to Mr. J. Jackson for excursions and tours from Southampton.
Amongst the licence-transfer applications in the East Midland Area are one of the Lincolnshire Road Car Co.. Ltd., (stage-service licence of Messrs. M. A. Taylor and Sons, Mareham-le-Fen), and another of the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd. (stage-service licences of Blue Bus Services [Derby], Ltd.).
OLDHAM MANAGER URGESABANDONMENT OF TRAMS.
ATTENTION was called, last week, by Mr. J. F. Richards, Oldham's transport manager,. to the need for early consideration of a suitable alternative._ to the authority's tramways system. The reasons given were the continued deterioration in the tracks and the decrease in profits on tramways operation for the past year, as compared with a large increase in the favourable balance on the bus-operation accounts.
The tram decrease of over £3,000 brought the profit on this section down to £8,036, whilst the bus increase of 29,346 resulted in an aggregate for the section of 412,455, or £20,491 for the working of the whole system. Some saving, it was reported, resulted from the use of oil engines. A double-decker and a chassis for a double-decker were purchased out of revenue.