BUS OPERATION IN BURMA.
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The Tramways Company in Mandalay Buys Road Motors in Order to Meet Competition.
SPEAKING at the recent annual meeting of the Burma Electric Supply Co., Ltd., in .Londonf—a concern which operates both the electric lighting and tramways services in Mandalay— the chairman referred to the increasing competition which the tramways of the company were experiencing prom privately owned motorbuses. Ho 'pointed out that in Mandalay there are, at present, no adequate rules fo.r controlling traffic and that the motorbus owners provide no 12,r oper service, for they run their vehicles where and when they Iike, usually hanging about the tramway stopping places until they fill up and then using the roads maintained by the electric supply company. The Burmese people, however, have apparently been attracted to the motorbuses, and this resulted in the company deciding, in 1926, to provide a. proper motor-vehicle service for the transport of passengers in and out of Mandalay whenever a sufficient demand exists. In pursuance of this policy an order was placed with Guy Motors, Ltd., for six 30-cwt chassis,and these were fitted with 16-seater single-deck lids
bodies built by Short Bros„ Ltd. .
The bodywork is of light metal-alloy construction, and, having regard to the semi-tropical climatic conditions obtaining in. Burma, asbestos roof-lining, hair blinds, and removable windows are provided to afford a cool and comfortable interior. The buses were put into serviee at the beginning of May last year on routes leading to Mandalay Hill, which are not served by the tramways system. Including the necessary equipment and garage accommodation, the fleet has involved the company in an expeediture which is in the vicinity of £7,000.