Ribble Take-over Strongly Opposed
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QTRONG objections were made by LI W. Simm and Sons (Chorley), Ltd., when Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., applied to the North Western Traffic Commissioners last week to take over the licences of Messrs. M. Corless and Sons, Coppull.
Mr. F. D. Walker, for Ribble, said that the company had agreed to purchase the Corless business including jointly operated stage-carriage services, an independent works service, and an excursion and tour licence with 49 destinations and a vehicle allowance of six on any day.
The excursions licence had not been extensively used, as Corless had only one coach, but the firm had a regular local following in private-party work. Parties were often taken to places named on the excursion licence and this could be claimed as goodwill, said Mr. Walker.
Mr. A. Cor 1 es s told Mr. H. Backhouse, for W. Sirnm and Sons, that excursions had never been offered to the public. No tickets were provided, the drivers carried private-party works tickets, and no fares were collected.
Mr. T. Jackson, managing director of Simrn, said that his company had run excursions from Coppull with two vehicles since 1937. Corless had not been operating, and if Ribble came in with even only one vehicle, Simm's 'comparatively sparse takings" from Coppull would be seriously affected.
Mr. Backhouse said that it was conceded by Ribble that they could not produce figures for excursions operation. All that they could do was to buy the licence, which was illegal. There was no goodwill andno
no witnesses to prove need.
Mr. Walker admitted that excursions operations had been neglected and did not pretend that six vehicles were justified, but submitted that it would be better for Ribble to carry on as licensed excursions operators rather than as contractors for private parties.
Reserving decision, the chairman said that the Commissioners were prepared to grant the transfer of all the Corless business with the exception of the excursions licence.