NEGOTIATIONS FOR ROAD - RAIL CO - OPERATION.
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Interesting Information Revealed at the Annual General Meeting of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd.
AT the twenty-second annual general meeting of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., held at Harrogate, the chairman, Mr. John P. Heaton, made reference to negotiations which were proceeding between the company and the railways. After referring to the desire of the railways to secure co-operation with, and a financial interest in, existing motorbus
undertakings, in preference to opening up competitive road services on their own account, Mr. Heaton said that the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., was now a party to negotiations which, it was hoped, would prove successful and would result beneficially to all concerned.
Proceeding to trace the development of passenger transport by road motor, Mr. Heaton said that, whilst he had no desire to quarrel with the railways, nor to strike any discordant note, he thought he might be permitted to mention that a large amount of road traffic was of the coaching operators' own creation. The general public had acquired the travelling habit on a large scale through the special facilities which road-travel companies had been able to offer, and it was a distinct gain to the community that no special form of transport now held a monopoly. in short, the public now enjoyed many facilities which were non-existent a few years ago.
Furthermore, he drew attention to the low cost of travel at present, compared with the period prior to the development of road services.
Mr Heaton also made a reference to the necessity of closer co-ordination between private bus undertakings and municipal authorities owning motor buses. Much had been heard of late with reference to the principle of rationalization ; he did not know of any business in which that principle could be adopted with more satisfactory results than in the coaching business.
The company, had recently purchased a valuable site, Mr. Heaton stated, in the centre of Leeds, for the erection of an up-to-date motorbus station. This would help the company to be of assistance to the municipality in dealing with the serious problem created by the ever-increasing volume of road traffic.
The chairman also mentioned the recent resignation of the company's managing director, Mr. ,Raworths who had been associated with the concern since its inception 22 years smo, and who had played an important part in the rapid development Of the company. Mr. Raworth is to retain his seat on the board, and has been appointed vicechairman. To fill the vacancy, Major F. j. Chappell has been appointed general manager.