IMPORTANT ITEMS OF THE PAST WEEK
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Sir John Maxwell on Commissioners' Powers.
IN the course of a farewell speech which Sir John Maxwell made at Aberdeen prior to his departure to take over the chairmanship of the Northern Commissioners . at Newcastle, he expressed the opinion that the powers of the Traffic Commissioners should be increased, and said that he hoped that, in future, they would be entrusted with the regulation of the road motor haulage business.
Whilst the Commissioners had been criticized, he stated, there was no complaint that the services as regulated by them were inefficient. He also said that when the amount of capital lacked up in railway services was taken into account, it could not be said that the Commissioners had paid more attention than was necessary to the railway objections.
Appeal Against Municipal Protection.
AT Preston a few days ago the appeal of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., was heard against protection conditions which the North Western Commissioners had granted in favour of Burnley Corporation. The appeal concerned the routes between Wheatley Lane and Raggate, Burnley and Holme Chapel and Burnley and Worsthorne.
Mr. R. H. Tolerton, who heard the appeal on behalf of the Minister, of Transport, quoted the Minister's general views on the matter of protection, saying that any. well-organized and properly co-ordinated system of transport might be entitled to protection against competition from outside the area, but that the form of such protection should be considered by the Commissioners upon the merits of individual cases, it being impossible to impose any universal formula to govern such matters.
For Burnley Corporation it was submitted that as the appeal had not been made within q month of the announce
fneut of the Commissioners' decision, the Minister had no jurisdiction; this objection was noted.
The Ribble concern argued that the Burnley undertaking had been run at a loss for some years, and that what was being asked for was not so much protection but the establishment of a right to participate in the profits of operators running through the area.
The municipal representative claimed that the case for the corporation had been argued at the hearing, reasons supporting its right to protection for the whole municipal system of services out of Burnley having been then stated. He also said that it was impossible to separate these three routes from the
whole system. Tim decision will be announced in due course.
Tour Centre for Sheffield.
AT a recent sitting of the Yorkshire Commissioners Sheffield Corporation put forward a suggestion that the new thoroughfare, Castlegate, should be used as the starting point for all excursions and tours emanating from the centre of the city. It met with but little meansiasfa on the part of the motor coach owners, who regard the location as out of the way and therefore unsuitable.
U.A.S. Appeal Falls.
THE appeal of United Automobile Services, Ltd., against the Northern Commissioners' refusal to license the extension of the Saltburn-Middlesbrough service to Stockton by way of Cambridge Road, Acklam and Thornaby, has failed.
An Irish Bus Deal.
IT is announced that the Irish Omni bus Co., Ltd., has acquired, by purchase, the Rocksavage Omnibus Co. The operations of ,the former company cover practically the whole of the Free State, and the undertaking works in association with the Great Southern Railway Co.
Useful Municipal Support for Bus Operator.
THE decision has been made by Prest wich Urban District Council to give active support to Mr. H. Orr in connection with bis appeal against the Commissioners' refusal to license the continuance of his four-year-old service between Prestwich and Manchester. It is understood that some 13,000 ratepayers have signed n petition on behalf of the appellant and that Prestwich Council will arrange to instruct counsel to represent ratepayers at the appeal hearing.
A Renewed Eastern-area Application.
A FRESH application in respect of a circular stage service from Rayleigh in, the Eastern Area was submitted by Mr. A. J. Springett, of Rayleigh, to the Commissioners at the recent Cambridge sitting, there being several objectors. Mr. Comyns Carr, K.C., appeared for the appellant, and said that this was a case of a small operator not realizing the difficulties which he was facing in endeavouring to represent his case beforethe Commissioners, the result being that incomplete evidence had been put forward at the original hearing and suggestions put in cross-examination were unguardedly accepted. The fresh application was made with local and municipal support. A decision was not announced at the hearing.
Higher Glasgow Fares Permitted.
WITH reference to recent statements concerning the application of Glasgow Corporation for permission to increase certain of its bus fares, this matter has been decided upon by the Southern Scotland Commissioners since our previous issue closed for press. The application, including the abolition of the id. fare except in areas where there is no alternative form of transport, has been granted. It appears that short-distance travellers will not be 'inconvenienced, as for the most part B4I they will be able to make their journeys just as speedily by tramcar. On all services on new housing schemes, etc., in which there is no alternative tram route, the corporation will continue to allow the 1d. minimum fare.
Organizing a Provincial Bus Company.
THE organization of a provincial bus
company was dealt with in a paper read in London before members of the Omnibus Society by Mr. A. D. Mackenzie, director and traffic manager of Southdown Motor Services, Ltd.
He remarked upon the importance of separating the traffic and engineering departments, pointing out that in the Southdown organization the local garage superintendent looks after engineering matters, whilst his senior, the regional manager, directs the traffic side of the depot. Mr. Mackenzie mentioned that the ideal capacity of a depot lies between 30 and 80 vehicles.
He credited the Maidstane and District Traction Co., Ltd., with the inauguration in the provinces of the central overhaul system, which has reduced running costs by id. a mile or more. The Southdown company endeavours to employ men who can, for instance, work A conductors during the summer season and in the overhaul shops during the winter. This scheme affords a continuity of employment which is desirable for many reasons.
Another Scottish Acquisition.
IT is stated that David MacErayne (1928), Ltd., has acquired the business operated by Link Lines, Ltd. The latter concern runs buses between Glasgow, Ardrishaig and Tarbert and was the first undertaking to introduce a service between North Argyll and the south. It is understood that the present service from Glasgow to Tarbert will be maintained and that there will be no increase in fares on the various services.
A Successful Northern Appeal.
THE appeal of Mr. J. Harwood, of Springwell, against the refusal of the Northern Commissioners to grant road licences in respect of two services between Springwell and Newcastle, by way of Wrekenton and Gateshead, has been decided in favour of the appellant. One of the stipulations indicated by the Minister in his decision is that contract tickets are not to be issued except at fares which, in the opinion of the Commissioners, will afford an adequate protection to the Newcastle and Gateshead tram services.
Enthusiasm of West Country Association.
GOOD propaganda work is being done by the Bristol and West of England Coach Owners Association, the secretary of which, Mr. H. Drewett,
has his office at 50, Queen Square, Bristol. A few days ago a successful meeting was held at the-Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, when the chairman, Mr. C. W. Jordan, welcomed Mr. Guilmant, of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, Ltd. to which the Bristol organization is affiliated.
Mr. Guilmant gave an instructive address concerning the working of the Road Traffic Act, and, as the result of new members coming forward, a section of the association was formed in Weston-super-Mare.
Bootle Bus-route Decisions.
DECISIONS concerning the Liverpool-Bootle bus services have now been announced by the North Western
Commissioners. 1MacShane's Motors, Ltd.. is licensed to run a Bootle-Litherland-Liverpool service, practically along the same lines as the late Merseyside services, but applications by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., have been refused.
Protection to Liverpool Corporation tramways is afforded in that, except by agreement, no passenger on the MacShane buses may be taken up for the purpose of being set down on a competing route, and protection is extended to points which lie within 440 yds. of the tramway line.
Liverpool Corporation has been permitted to withdraw eight motorbus services and to vary certain services within Liverpool.