NOTABLE SUCCESS OF SOUTH WALES BUS OWNERS' DINNER
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rEHERE was an attendance of 200 at
tho annual dinner of the South Wales Motor Omnibus Proprietors Association, at Cardiff, on November24. Some of the members present journeyed well over 100 miles to attend.
Prior to the dinner, the annual general meeting of the association was held. Mr. Howell M. Davies (Imperial gators, Abercynon) presided.
Reports of the activities of the association during the year were presented, as well as on the progress of the organization's opposition to the Salter Report. The audited accounts showed the financial sida of the association to be healthy.
The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows :--Chairman, Mr. W. E. Gough (principal of Gough's Welsh Motorways, Cardiff and Mountain Ash) ; vice-chairman, Mr. S. Bassett (Bassett's Motors, Gorseinon) ; executive committee : the chairman, vice-chairman, and Messrs. Guy Bown (Chepstow), E. V. Ralph (Abertillery), Thomas White (Cardiff), Col. R. G. Llewelyn (Neath), Howell M. Davies (Abercynon), George Taylor (Swansea), Voider Jones (Skewen), Angus James (Ammanford), and J. L. John (Gravesend).
Mr. Howell Davies presided at the annual dinner and had the support of Mr. W. E. Gough, the new chairman, Mr. S. Bassett, Councillor Clifford Thomas, general secretary of the association, and members of the committee. The guests included the Deputy Lard Mayor of Cardiff (Councillor W. G. Howell), Mr. F. A. Film (vice-chairman of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, London), Mr. Trevor Williams, secretary of Cardiff Business Club, and Col. Thompson, of Newport, The toast of "The Association" was proposed by Mr. F. A. Flinaewho said that South Wales was fortunate in having a body of Traffic Commissioners who had obtained general recognition as amongst the most competent and fair in the country. He understood that South Wales was getting a square deal, but all areas were not so satisfied in this matter.
Responding, Councillor Clifford Thomas remarked on the need for bringing home to the public the heaviness of taxation on the bus industry. The South Wales Association members paid a total annual tax of £310,000. Li addition, the insurance obligations of the law involved a payment by the members of approximately £90,000, and the recent petrol-price rise would cost another £.65,000 per annum.
Councillor Thomas remarked upon the good work that had been done in the stabilization of fares. The joint conciliation board with the trades unions, the first of its kind in the country, had had an active year and worked successfully. He paid high tribute to the services of Mr. Flin to the industry.
"The Road Transport Industry" was proposed by Mr. Trevor Williams (Cardiff), who said that industrialists hoped for increased use of oil from coal by road vehicles and for the development of the employment of coal gas for road transport In responding, Col. Thompson was confident that the roadtransport industry would survive all attacks from railway interests.