In Public Service.
Page 6
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Birkenhead Town Council may seek motorbus powers.
Nuneaton Town Council has decided to buy motorbuses.
A Karrier prison van has been bought by Stoke-on-Trent.
The L.G.O.C. is developing various of its dockside routes.
French Railway Cloth.
We have reason to believe that some owners of saloon motorbuses and private-hire vehicles intend, for next season, to adopt the welltried and attractive cloth which is used in the first-class carriages of the French ra:slway companies. Inquiries concerning this should be addressed to Messrs. BondinChalon, of Long Acre, W.C.
Char-a-bancs Orders.
Existing and new owners of chars-a-basics, if they be wise members of the trades and occupations to which they belong, place their orders for the following season at the close sf a season. The reason for this is not far to seek : they are in a position exactly to gauge their resourcesfor the purpose. They have before them, by not later than the end of October in each year, their completed accounts for the preceding season, together with estimates of likely expenditure upon renovations and repairs in respect of the fleets in hand.
It is for the above reasons, which are somewhat elaborated on page 173, that we have devoted a considerable portion of this issue to references to various eases of charit-bancs proprietorship, and have also specially ensured that this issue shall go into the hands of a considerable number of likely new purchasers of that class of publicservice vehicle. It is a. mistake to imagine that decisions in regard to new char-a-basics purchases can
without risk be deferred until February or March in any year.
The receipts of the National Steam Car Co.; Ltd., for the week ended 17th October, 1913, were £3666. This shows an increase of 11679 over the corresponding period of 1912.
The receipts of the Tramways (M.E.T.) Omnibus Co., Ltd., for the week ended 1Ith October, 1913, were 18289, and for the Gearless Omnibus Co., Ltd., 1;579. These show a decrease of £1321 and respectively.
A Complete Purchase.
The trouble between the L.G.O.C. and the directors of the New Central Omnibus Co., Ltd., which we anticipated last February, recently came to a head, and resulted in the outright purchase of the smaller undertaking. We may recall that the difficulty was due to the separation of the manufacturing and running accounts of the L.G.O.C. undertaking, the former having been vested in the Associated Equipments Co., Ltd., which company naturally sought to charge higher prices than were previously in force, with a resulting higher percentage of profits in respect of its capital than was shown in respect of the L.G.O.C. capital.
There is no occasion for us to go into details, but we may put on record that the shareholders in the smaller undertaking receive practically .22 in six per cent.. income bonds of the Underground Electric Ilailways, with a bonus of practically half an " A " share, in the same undertaking, per II share.
Fire Brigade Matters.
Fleetwood U.D.C. has purchased a Leyland motor fire-engine.
The Barnsley Town Council is being pressed by the local Chamber of Commerce to buy a motor fire-engine.
Margate Town Council will proceed with the erection of a new central fire-station, and will purchase a motor fire-engine.
Wallasey U.D.C. has resolved to effect improvements in the Liscard fire-station, and to take early action in respect of the purchase of motor equipment.
Surbiton U.D.C., after considerable delay, has decided to purchase a Dennis motor fire-engine, and also a motor tender. The make of the latter is not settled.
The Maiton Joint Fire Brigade Committee, whose proceedings have been mentioned in our columns for several months past, has at last definitely resolved to purchase a motor fire-engine.
Wokingharn (Berks.) Volunteer Fire Brigade wants a motor fireengine. The Marquis of Downshire is a keen supporter of this brigade, and it is not unlikely that the necessary money will be raised.
The Public Health Committee of the Tottenham U.D.C. has directed the Medical Officer of Health to report, in conjunction with the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, as to the provision of an efficient ambulance service in the district.
The decision of Abingdon (Berks.) Town Council to purchase a secondhand motorbus chassis, in order to tow a steam fire-engine, cannot be commended as a wise one. We anticipate that there will be a had smash one night with this combination.
We are sorry to see, especially having regard to the fact that the Hon. Arthur Stanley, M.P., Chairman of the ILA.C., is Member of Parliament for the district, that the Ornaskirk U.D.C. is not prt:. ceeding with a joint scheme for the purchase of a motor fire-engine. Various neighbouring villages have
declined to participate. Cannot Mr. Stanley do something to improve matters and prospects ?