Operating Aspects of PASSENGER TRANSPORT
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LATEST NEWS FROM THE TRAFFIC AREAS
LONDON BUS ASSOCIATION'S PETITION AGAINST L.P.T. BILL,
A STRONG petition against the Lon
don Passenger Transport Bill has been sent by the Association of London Omnibus Proprietors, Ltd., to members a the House of Lords.
The petition quotes references to the measurebby Sir Henry Jackson, M.P., and Mr. Herbert Morrison, the late Minister of Transport, and contends that it is opposed by the majority of electors in the London Traffic Area. It is further held that "had the principle of the Bill been left to a free vote in the House of Commons, it would have been rejected."
" Our members have been refused the equitable safeguard required by them in committee, that they should be compensated upon a basis not less( favourable than the terms agreed with the London General Omnibus. Co., Ltd., in respect of their short-stage omnibus services," states the petition.
NEW COACHING DEVELOPMENTS IN LONDON.
AS from April 1, Tourist Motor Coaches, Ltd., which, during the summer months, operates 12 services daily from London to Southampton, is transferring its terminus from the London Terminal Coach Station to Samuelson's Coach Station, Eeeleston Place, S.W.1. This point has been chosen because it is nearer to the centre of London. In the meantime, it is intended to keep open the booking office, from which the services are controlled, at the London Terminal Coach Station.
Central London Coach Stations booking office at Gillingham Street, has been taken over by Auto Bookings, Ltd., and it is under the direction of Messrs. H. Whitwharn and R. Mowbray. 838 From this office the London-Folkestone services operated by Auto Pilots, Ltd., Folkestone, which was one of the companies represented in London by the Central London Coach Station, will he controlled, vehicles using the office as a starting point.
GOOD PROGRESS BY P.S.V. OPERATORS.
AN active policy is being pursued by P.S.V. Operators, Ltd., 52, Bedford Row, London, W.C.1, in connection with the scheme for a standardized ticket book for agents. Already 25 operators, owning collectively some 500 coaches, have signed membership agreements.
A circular letter to agents points out that the Booking Agents Association of Great Britain, Ltd., officially supports the objects and principles of P.S.V. Operators, Ltd., and that there is no intention of' preventing an agent, who signs the agreement, from acting for an operator who is not a member of the company, unless that operator used methods that would provide unfair competition with concerns working with P.S.V. Operators, Ltd.
DECISIONS ON SEVERAL IMPORTANT APPEALS.
THE Minister of Transport has an nounced his decisions in connection with several important appeals against licence conditions imposed by the Metropolitan and South-Eastern Commissioners, Mr. F. Kerbey appealed against the condition, in connection with five seasonal services running to the coast, that he should operate regularly according to schedule.
Venture Transport (Hendon), Ltd., appealed against the condition that a ticket indicating the fare paid shall be issued to each passenger. The M.T. Co. also appealed against this condition, as well as against conditions binding the licence holder to adhere to the speed limit, not to allow his vehicles to be overladen, and that he should comply with police regulations and directions. The Minister has decided to make no Order on the South-Eastern Commissioners, So far as the appeals relating to the Metropolitan Area are concerned, the Minister does not propose to give his formal decision until he is able to determine the questions concerning the restriction of picking-up points, but he will not cause the standard conditions appealed against to be varied.'
In connection with the condition relating to tickets, the Minister's decision is not to be held as prejudicing any representation to the Commissioners in any particular case, as to the desirability of amending the words to read, " . . be issued in respect of each passenger."
SHEFFIELD GAINS "CONSENT."
SHEFFIELD Corporation has been granted consent to run buses on various roads outside the city boundary. The inquiry was held on January 30. MR. GARCKE ON BUS-OPERATING HANDICAPS.
COMMENTS on the state of the pas senger-transport industry were made by Mr. Sidney E. Garcke, chairman of Tilling and British Automobile Traction, Ltd., at the company's 29th ordinary general meeting.
He remarked that increased use of the small private car was having a noticeable effect on bus receipts. He made it clear that, if taxation on passenger vehicles were increased, it would be necessary to discontinue those services which are definitely unprofitable, because there is a limit to the burden that can be passed on to the passenger.
Referring to the London Passenger Transport Bill and its negligible effect on the company, Mr. Garcke mentioned that, in London, the company runs only 33 vehicles, whilst it is interested in provincial workings to the extent of some 8,000 buses.
DEARER LONDON TAXI FARES?
IT is proposed to hold a conference
between representatives of the London taxicab organizations and Sir John Gilmour, the Home Secretary, on March 2, to discuss the question of increasing the initial fare for hiring taxicabs. It was proposed to raise the charge from 6d. to 9d., but the taxicab trade feels that, if the rate cannot be raised to Is., it would rather have it as at present.
APPEAL AGAINST TERMINUS RULING.
CARDIFF City Councirs appeal against a decision of the South Wales Traffic Commissioners in allocating Westgate Street as a terminus for Neath and Cardiff Luxury Coaches, Ltd., in place of Fitzhamon Embankment, has been received by the Minister of Transport. This is one of the first appeals against a ruling of the South Wales Commissioners.
L.G.O.'S REDUCED TRAFFIC.
SUPPLEMENTING the information given in last week's issue, the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., carried 1,512,564,493 passengers during 1932, being a decrease of 26,073,726 over the number for the previous year. The company's vehicles covered 1,352 road miles, representing an increase of 12 miles, and travelled 169,683,035 bus miles (a decline of 119,693). The number of buses owned or worked was 4,987, as compared with 5,185 in 1931, the decrease being consequent upon the decline in traffic and the speeding-up of working.
During the year the L.G.O. Co. and its associated and subsidiary concerns paid a total of £1,745,000 in taxation in respect of petrol and licence duties, not including other forms of taxation.
In August last a tax-free dividend of 2i per cent, on the ordinary shares was paid for the year, and the directors recommended the payment of a final dividend of 21 per cent.