THE M.H.C.S.A.'S NEW EFFORT TO STABILIZE FARES
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In Face of Discouragement this Energetic Association Makes a Fresh Attempt to Help the Traffic Commissioner THE persistent virility of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association is really rather to be admired. Its enterprise in calling together operators a few weeks ago to get them to agree to various minimum fares on different coach routes connecting London with coastal resorts was rewarded by a noticeable lack of enthusiasm on the part of several coach proprietors, but in spite of that another determined effort is now being made. The meeting referred to was held on June 22nd.
Out of some 370 schedules of fares that were circulated by the secretary to operators, only 41 replies were received intimating willingness to accept agreed fares as a condition of road-service licences.
• It is understood that the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner, dissatisfied with the response of operators to his invitation to them to co-operate in the standardizing of fares, proposes to hold, some time in the autumn, an inquiry tinder Section 72 (6) of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, to consider the fares charged by competitive forms of passenger transport. Needless to say, the more assistance the operators can give before and during such an inquiry, the better it will be for them.
Realizing the importance of the matter, which, it may be mentioned, was stressed in an editorial article in this journal on August 11th, the M.H.C.S.A. has decided to set up a tribunal to make investigations into the whole question of fares. Mr. F. A. Flin, chairman of the management committee, has been appointed as chairman of the tribunal, and has been given full power to invite three suitable members of the association to assist him.
He has also been given a free hand as regards the nature of the investigations, and we understand that it is his intention to look carefully into the matter of costs of operation. Probably the tribunal will submit its own recommendations for the consideration of the Commissioner, and the management committee will, of course, retain the privilege of forwarding its own comments upon such recommendations.
It is to be hoped that this fresh and optimistic effort will be accorded more support than have others in the past, and that Mr. Efin will be able to obtain the help and talent in respect of the accountancy side of the business which will be indispensable to success. In particular those leading members of the industry who are fitted to serve on this tribunal will be doing themselves and their fellow operators a service if, despite pressure of business, they will help forward this movement should they be asked to do so.