INDEPENDENTS DEFENDED
Page 56
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
DIFFICULTIES in the operation of services to football matches were mentioned by Mr. Gleeson E. Robinson, Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner, in granting a licence to George Ewer and Co., Ltd., for trips to such events. London Transport opposed an application to operate to Luton, instead of to Leicester, but the Board's objection was overruled.
In giving his decision Mr. Robinson said that excursion services to matches outside London were not entirely competitive with the regular facilities. Special road excursions created traffic of their own, and operators who ran them had a definite goodwill among a certain number of passengers.
In granting licences for such excursions, Mr. Robinson has always paid keen regard to the prevention of wasteful competition with regular services. He stressed the fact that, in gauging the success of various facilities, it was necessary not to look at one year alone, but at previous years.
He was not prepared to disallow a certain operation merely because, during one year, it did not prove to be a si4ficient attraction.
The transfer of teams from one division to another necessitated the review of licences annually to meet • changes of public interest.
In rebutting the Board's objection that its own services, combined with those of the railways, were sufficient, The Commissioner declared that the excursions would build up new traffic. Frequently, he said, services of this kind were a great advantage to passengers.
SOUTHEND APPEALS FAIL.
APPEALS by 13 operators against the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner's refusal to extend the period of operation of excursions to Southend Illuminations until October 19 have failed. The appellants were:— A. Timpsoa and Sons, Ltd., Venture Trans port (icier onntial;,,, Ltd. Cik Bor. ea .Cdoa ehted Cliffs Saloon Coaches, Ltd., IL C. Porter, A. Al: Clark, C. G. Lewis, T. 0. Green, W. J. Pike, Ltd., George Ewer and Co.. Ltd.. and Surrey Motors, Ltd.