YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATIONS TO CO-OPERATE
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Important Move to Safeguard Interests of Independent • Operators AN important resolution providing for co-operation between the organizations of independent operators in Yorkshire was unanimously carried at a meeting in Leeds on January 24. Convened by the north-eastern division of the Commercial Motor Users Association, the meeting was attended also by officials and members of the Yorkshire Motor Coach and Transport Owners Association and the Yorkshire Stage Carriage Operators Association, about 500 concerns being represented.
Mr. Robert Barr, of R. Barr (Leeds), Ltd., and Wallace Arnold Tours, Ltd., who is an official of the C.M.U.A., presided. Speaking for the committee, Mr. Barr said : "It is out opinion that the time has now arrived when the whole of the associations in Yorkshire should he amalgamated or coordinated." The committee, he continued, was willing to help every operator, large or small.
Referring to the policy of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, Mr. Barr complained that, in many cases, the number of excursions and tours granted was much too restricted, and that the Commissioners had been too harsh with the smaller operator. " We must have a better understanding with the Commissioners]' he declared.. We have felt during the past three years the hardship which has been inflicted upon us, and we cannot afford to be undulr burdened with further legislation and regulation."
Mr. D. T. SandeIson, solicitor to the north-eastern division of the C.M.U.A., saw no hope for the industry unless operators put before the Minister instances of the serious hardships imposed on them, and of the decrease in their business, as compared with before the Act. There should be an authoritative body to advise the Minister.
Mr. F. G. Bibbings, secretary of the Yorkshire Stage Carriage Operators Association, declared: "The Commissioners have saddled us with impossible conditions to restrict our activities, and they have pursued a line of action which is creating group monopolies on the part of the combine companies in Yorkshire."
Councillor Granter, vice-chairman of the Y.S.C.O.A., stated that in his area .
there were 35 private operators in 1931, but now there were only two. He complained that on Tuesdays and Saturdays the "combine" operators came along with special vehicles and ran them immediately in front of the independent buses.
The resolution, passed unanimously in favour of co-operation and consulta tion between the associations in Yorkshire, stated that effective steps should be taken to ensure that proper representations as to hardships should be made to the Minister.
In order to obtain fully representative -views, no single operator, section of operators or individual association
should make representations or take any action without previous reference
to a joint conference with the other associations. The north-eastern divi sion of the C.M.U.A., with other operators or body of operators, should give the widest publicity to • the grievances of operators and the travelling public resulting from the administration of the Road Traffic Act.