RAILWAYS ATTACK GROUP APPLICATIONS
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THE group system of applications for excursion licences employed by the Yorkshire Motor Coach Owners Association was attacked at a sitting of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners. It was explained that, in order to place independent operators in the Association on a basis Of equality, a list of 181 excursions had been prepared and the owners intended to apply for the whelle group.
Mr. F. P. Merritt, for the railway companies, contended that the scheme was put forward to mislead the Commissioners, • and that operators who had not popular tours on their licences were attempting to have them granted for all time. The time had come for stabilization and for a tighter control of these applications.
Mr. A. Masser (for the applicants) vigorously denied that there was a need for tighter control. The public, he said, had left the railways because they had shown a coinplete lack of enterprise,
T h e Commissioners said that the applica
• tions would be considered.
NEW APPOINTMENTS BLACKPOOL.
AT the annual meeting, last week, Mr. G. Wolstenholme was elected president, Mr. H. Hardman secretary, Mr. E. T. Butterworth president-elect, and Mr. J. H. Jackson treasurer of the Blackpool and District Motor Coaclit Owners Association. The new committee appointed comprised Messrs. S. Butterworth, A. Roberts, II. Spencer, A. W. Riding, J. F. Elsworth, A. Leavesley, H. Milner, and Coun. A. Whiteside.
The Association's 13th annual dinner is to be held to-night (Friday).
NEW BRIGHTON CALLING FOR COACH SERVICES.
ALIST of arguments that might be used by coach operators when they appear befvre the Traffic Commissioners to awpply for licences for tours to New Brighton has been issued by New Brighton Xrade Development Society.
It is stated that New Brighton is a comparatively new holiday resort, but is starved of transport facilities. "The public is entitled to expect consideration from the Traffic Commissioners," states the Society, "as they have the power to say who shall or shall not run to New Brighton. To withhold bookings is to hold the development of this resort in check, create discomfort for travellers, and deny opportunities to enterprising vehicle owners. It
MO would be invidious to make .comparisons with other places, but New Brighton interests have been clearly prejudiced by the shortcomings in the existing transport services.
NEW ATTRACTIONS FOR TOURS.
ALARGE number of applications for permission to run tours of various kinds was heard last week by the Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners. Added attractions are to be introduced this season. One firm, for example, applied for permission to run Sunday tours to Braemar and Oban, among other places, at the same fare, inclusive of lunch and tea, as was
charged last year for only the journey.
Most of the applications were opposed by other operators, and one advocate spoke of the danger of monopolies. Dealing with companies which objected to evening tours being run Over certain routes, he stated that, if the Commissioners approved of the principle that tours ,could not be run by any operator who did not hold stagecarriage licences for that particular route, they were going to create a huge monopoly. The tour operator, he argued, was creating new traffic.
RENOWN CLAIM HEARING ENDS.
AT last the bearing of the claim of the Renown Traction Co., Ltd., for £67,440 compensation for the transfer of its bus undertaking to London Transport has been concluded by the London Passenger Transport Arbitration Tribunal. Judgment will be given and costs awarded when certain other test cases have been heard. It was argued for the Renown concern that . compensation should be calculated on the value of the business to its owner.
On Monday, the Tribunal commenced to hear the claim of the Ryan Omnibus Co., for £24,099, less £4,500 already paid.
COUNCILS' FEAR OF BUS MONOPOLIES
THE proposal of the Western Welsh Omnibus Co., Ltd., to take over the Bridgend-Ogmore and Garw Valley services of Mr. W. T. Jones, Bryncethin, and the Bridgend-Maesteg services of Mr. Fred John, was strongly opposed by Ogmore and Garw and Maesteg Urban District Councils when the company applied to the South Wales Commissioners for the transfer of the licences. Both the other operators supported the application.
The W.W.O.C, contended that it was in the public interest for the services to be run by one company and the facilities would not be curtailed,
Both councils argued that it was against tha public interest for transport services to pass to a monopoly or trust. The councils feared t Ii a t, eventually, a monopoly would result hr the loss of facilities and the recreation of the old evils of the time when railways had a monopoly.
The Commissioners rceerved their decision, remarking that important issues were raised, and • that they would have to discuss the matter.
On Monday night, Ogmore and Garw Council decided to appeal, in the event Of the W.W.O.C. applications being granted, to run a municipal bus service in mid-Glamorgan, if necessary, to prevent a monopoly, and to invite Macstag, Bridgcnd and Penybont Councils to confer with the Ogmore, and Ganv authority, with a view to establishing a joint municipal transport, board in mid-Glamorgan.
NEWCASTLE STATION DISPUTE GOES TO COURT.
AN echo of the dispute at Newcastleon-Tyne, between between tbe city council and the bus operators, regarding the payment of standage fees for the Haymarket bus station, was heard at Newcastle Assizes, when the corporation claimed standage charges from Messrs. Allen and Sons and Mr. J. Berry, chairman of the Northern Road Transport Owners Association, The case was a test action, and five or six other concerns were involved in the decision.
After two days' hearing, Mr. Justice Goddard gave judgment for the corporation against Messrs. Allen for £182, although £600 was claimed. He held, however, that Mr. Berry was technically right in withholding from the corporation standage fees which had been paid into a suspense account, pending the result of a previous test action, and he gave judgment for Mr. Berry, with costs.