Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
One of 17 attractive Leyland buses with M.C.W. patented metal 4R-seater bodies, recently completed to the design of Mr. G. F. French, director and general manager of Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd. The company has 39 vehicles with M.C.W. bodies.
Move to Restrict
°THE resumed hearing of the appli catians of 43 Lancashire operators to be allowed to run "fan-tail tours into the South-Eastern Area was concluded on Tuesday after a two-day session. The chairman of the Commissioners intimated that he would give his decision after having conferred with his colleagues in other affected areas.
Within the past two years, there has been a great increase in the number of coach tours, which, starting from a destination in the north, proceed to the South Coast, where the passengers stay at a hotel for a certain number ot days, enjoy daily tours in the vehicle which brought them down and then return home by the same coach.
This form of inclusive holiday is strongly opposed by operators at the seaside resorts, who maintain that the local tours should be operated only by them. They point out, moreover, that the rapid growth of the " fan-tail" tour is abstracting their regular business.
Objection is also forthcoming from the railways, which claim that they operate inclusive holidays ; it has been stated, however, that these are a mere imitation of the " fan-tail" coach tour and are not entitled to protection. Further objection is put forward by operators of express services, who maintain that their long distance services are losing custom.
On the first day of the proceedings, the evidence of the applicants was concluded without any new light being thrown on the operation of these tours as a whole. An exception was the case of Crosville Motor Services, Ltd. The company showed that, as a result of price competition from another Lancashire operator, it had to reduce the cost of its Bournemouth " fan-tail" tour, which meant dispensing with the services of the local operator for tours and using its own coach instead.
After the evidence submitted by the objectors had been concluded on the second day, Mr. E. S. Herbert, for Southdown Motor Services. Ltd., and Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., both objectors, stated their case in full. There was great uncertainty, he said, as to the actual figures of the coaches authorized, both in the prim n40
"Fan-tail" Tours
ary and backing areas, and uncertainty as to the actual coaches operated. There was, however, certainty of the increase in 1935, and unless " fan-tail " operations were controlled there would be no saying where it would stop.
In his submission this class of tour should be stopped entirely, but his clients would be prepared to accept a ruling which would take as a basis the actual operations in 1934. These operations should be judged according to quantum, and not destination.
He had the support of Mr. C. H. Preece, of the Southern and Western National companies, and of Mr. E. W. Marshall Harvey, representing six Bournemouth operators.
The case for the applicants was argued by Mr. W. Blackhurst and Mr. H. Backhouse, Jr., backed by Mr. G. Williams, for Ribble Motor Services, Ltd, Their contention was that the objectors had not brought forward a shred of evidence to prove that the " fan-tail " tour had affected their traffic at all. These tours were con-trolled in exactly the same way as any other form of operation, but, in Mr. Backhouse's submission, the actual control must lie with the Commissioners of the area of origin.
Considering that the coach neither plied for hire in the South-Eastern Area nor picked up or set down additional passengers, it was a unit on its Own and did not affect local operators. It was also maintained that the " fan-tail" tour offered the public facilities for travel which were in great demand and which could not be offered at that price if at the seaside passengers were handed over to local operators.
Sir Henry Piggott, chairman, in reserving decision, admitted that, at the outset, the extended tours had been so small in number that the backings had been granted as a matter of course.
Objections by combine companies and local operators to these extended tours were the subject of lengthy discussions at a meeting in Manchester. It was announced afterwards that there was complete unanimity amongst the passenger. associations in Lancashire and it was decided to take united action, wherever necessary, to resist objections to this type of operation.
NEW PLAN TO UNIFY TRANSPORT
UNIFICATION of Scottish transport, as a part of a traffic scheme for Britain, is foreshadowed by Mr. George Fredericks in a report which has been issued following two years' investigation of transport problems. Mr. Fredericks, who is an officer of a largo bus concern, regards the establishment of three, or probably five, regional authorities, responsible to a central board which will frame the country's transport policy, as a strong possibility.
There would have to he considerable devolution in traffic management. Each region would follow the lines of London Transport, subject to local conditions. Dealing with Clydeside. Mr. Fredericks suggests an authority, the territory of which would cover industrial Lanarkshire, the Vale of Leven to Balloch, and the south-west of Scotland to Ayr.
" As the passenger-transport industry AS at present divided into five well-organized sections, an excellent nucleus for further co-ordination exists," he states.
THREE LEFT IN LANCS MERGER.
ROCHDALE Transport Committee has passed a recommendation to the town council to withdraw from the scheme for a merger of municipal passenger transport undertakings -in South-East Lancashire and East Cheshire. It is stated that the committee agrees with the principle of the merger, but not. with the financial basis that is being considered.
Originally 10 undertakings were included in the proposals, but now only Manchester, Salford and Oldham remain, On May S, there is to be a deputation to the Ministry to discover its attitude towards a modified merger.
STRIKERS WARNED BY UNION.
ASEVERE warning to the instigators of unofficial strikes, especially in London, has been given by Mr. Ernest Bevin, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union. He declares that those who are continually intriguing to bring about stoppages are .doing a grave injustice to the members of the Union as a whole.