G.W.R. SPYING ON BUS OPERATORS
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HOW two Great Western Railway detectives travelled as passengers on a coach trip was revealed when they figured as witnesses in the prosecution of the coach owners, at Blackwood Police Court, for carrying excess passengers. Messrs. Albert G. Gibbs, Albert R. Gibbs and Leslie R. Gibbs, bus proprietors, of Pontllanfraith (Mon), were summoned by the South Wales Commissioners for charging less than the proper fare for excursions from Pontllanfraith to Barry Island.
Evidence was given that Messrs. Gibbs Bros. were licensed to run the excursions at 3s. per head, but that, it was alleged, they charged 2s. on two occasions. The magistrates found the charge proved.
The three partners were also summoned for overloading one of the coaches on August 11 last.
Evidence was given by two G.W.R. inspectors that they travelled on this vehicle, which was on hire to Messrs. Gibbs Bros. from an Abersycha.n firm. There were, they testified, 31 adults, 10 children and five babies on the 29-seater vehicle.
The magistrates dismissed the summonses against the two younger partners, but fined the eldest, Mr. Albert G. Gibbs, 50s. plus 10s. 6d. costs on each of the two summonses for undercutting and 10s, on the overloading charge.
A 70-year-old bus proprietor, Mr. W. T. Withers, Pontllanfraith, was also fined 50s., plus 10s. 6d. costs, for each of two offences in respect of excursion fares.
£42,000 TROLLEYBUS SCHEME AT SHIELDS.
D OYAL assent has been received by South Shields Town Council to its Bill for the introduction of trolleybuses. The transport committee has drawn up a £42,000 scheme and it is proposed to apply to the Special Areas Commissioner for a grant.
Mr. H. Muscroft, the newly appointed transport, manager, suggests that the work be carried out in
two sections. The first would cost £22,150 and the other £19,480. If the project receives the immediate approval of the council, the first stage will be completed by next autumn and the second by the following spring.
POLICE CHARGES SHOULD BE FRAMED DIFFERENTLY.
n'/IIEN Barton Transport, Ltd., VV Beeston, Notts, was fined at Loughborough recently for allowing an excess number of passengers on one of its buses, Mr. L. W. A. White, defending, said that prior to the Road Traffic Act, 1930, the concern had had no conviction, despite the fact that it
was running 100 vehicles. Since the operation of the 1930 Act, the concern had been convicted on five occasions.
Mr. White suggested that if the police were to chargo the conductor with using the vehicle and the company with per
miffing it to be used, he would be-able to bring the merits of the case before the court. The control of overcrowding was not in the hands of the company, he said, and, whilst the conductor could be dealt with, it was then too late to prevent a conviction.
S.M.T. DUPLICATION ISSUE NEXT WEEK,
ON Wednesday next, the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner will continue the hearing at Romney House, Marsham Street, S.W.1, of the application of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., in connection with the Edinburgh-London route, when the vital question of duplication will be raised. The hearing was adjourned on June 6. The London, Midland and Scottish and London and North-Eastern Railway Companies will object.
• MORE BUSES FOR SOUTHAMPTON.
A FTER October 3, the Millbrook, CA. Shirley and Wolston districts of Southampton are to have increased bus services. These will replace the present tram services, which are to be operated only twice each morning to convey workers to a factory.
Six new double-deck buses will be used on the augmented services, bringing the fleet up to 58 buses.
NEW BUS WORKERS' FEDERATION FORMED.
A NEW federation for bus workers t-thas recently been formed jointly by the National Union of Railwaymen and the Transport and General Workers Union, to organize bus workers in privately owned provincial undertakings The chairman of the new union is Mr. J. Marchbank, of the N.U.R.. and Mr. H. Clay, of the T. and G.W.U., is secretary.
TOUR BUSINESS CONDUCTED UNDER PRETEXT OF HIRING.
WHEN a Dundee operator applied to the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners for an excursion and tours licence, there were some interesting passages. The applicant maintained that he had lasen refused membership of the Dundee Charabanc Owners Association, but had been hired by other operators, although they denied rt. He contended that the number of vehicles available was inadequate for the demand.
In reply to Mr. R. W. Currie, for the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., and W. Alexander and Sons. Ltd., the applicant said it had been agreed that, when no other vehicles were available, he could put up a notice stating that he was on hire to other firms. He agreed that he had been carrying on a tour business from Shore Terrace without a licence, under the pretext that his vehicle was hired to a firm.
The case was adjourned to allow the applicant to produce his books and records. When the sitting resumed the applicant's representative stated that the application would be withdrawn. Mr. Henry Riches, chairman, warned the applicant that he would receive the closest attention.
DEADLOCK INBRIGHTON SCHEME AT a recent meeting of Brighton Tramways Committee, the town clerk reported with regard to the negotiations for the purchase of certain portions of the bus undertaking of Thos. Tilling, Ltd.
The suggestion submitted was that certain Tilling routes should be sold to the Corporation and others retained, and that Tillings and the corporation should refrain for a term of years from setting up other competing services. The Tilling concern, however, was not disposed to sell any part of its business. The company suggested the consideration of an agreement similar to one arrived at by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., and York Corporation, but the municipal representatives were rot prepared to entertain this proposal.
The tramways committee has instructed the town clerk to take steps to secure protective fares or some other form of protection in all cases of applications for licences to provide long-distance services on routes, over the local parts of which the municipality may propose to provide services.
LONDON TRANSPORT FINED: APPEAL POSSIBLE.
AT the Mansion House Justice Room, London, on Monday, before Alderman Sir W. Phene Neal, a London bus driver was summoned for driving an nil-engined vehicle that was emitting smoke which could have been pre' ented by taking reasonable steps. London Transport was summoned for permitting the offence.
Mr. W. Fox-Andrews, for the defence, submitted that the onus was upon the prosecution of proving that the smoke complained of could have been prevented by taking " reasonable steps." He referred the Alderman to the reports in the Press of a previous case, which made it quite clear that those summonses were dismissed upon those grounds.
Sir Phene: "I do not think that this case is on all fours with that one."
The Alderman: " In my view, the absence of smoke from other buses • is sufficient proof that what smoke there was in this case could have been prevented. I, therefore, find the Board guilty. The summons against the driver I shall dismiss under the Probation of Offenders Act, but I shall fine the Board 40s."
Sir Phene agreed, if requested, to state a case for the High Court.
TROLLEYBUSES TO REPLACE TRAMS AT READING.
cOR some years the tramways system
at Reading has gradually been abandoned in favour of bus services. Now an experimental service of trolleybuses is to be introduced on the Caversham-Whitley route.
The total cost of the change-over is to be nearly £200,000, the principal item of which will be the cost of the vehicles at £120,000. Further routes are under consideration.