Keeping the Live Theatre Going
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THE Northern Traffic Commissioners
made it known last week (hat they wished to ensure that every encouragement would be given "to all sides" help keep the live theatre going in the North.
This was during an application at Newcastle upon Tyne by G. E. Martindale, of Ferryhill, Co. Durham, who was applying to modify an excursions and tours licence to operate tours to Newcastle on race days, football matches and theatres "all the year round." He also sought to increase the fares on two tours, to modify the period of operation of certain day tours, and to operate to Blackpool and Sunderland. Objections were lodged by the United Automobile Services, Ltd., Durham District Services, the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., British Railways and Wilkinson's Motor Services.
Agreement Reached
For the objectors, Mr. J. I.. R. Croft said that as a result of discussions between the parties, an agreement had been reached about the race and football excursions. There was no objection to the increase in fares, neither was there any objection to the modification of most of the day tours.
Addressing Mr. R. G. Hunter, representing the applicant, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon. chairman, said that there was one matter which the Commissioners wished to raise—the question of the operation of coaches fOr people who pre-booked seats to the theatre. " Theatres in this country arc, owing to social developments and other circumstances, in rather a parlous state, and every encouragement has been given on all sides to assist the theatre in keeping going. We would like to know that this agreement in no way binds Mr. Martindale not to apply for theatre journeys anywhere in our traffic area in future."
Mr. Hunter replied that both Northern and United Services had always agreed to such theatre services, provided they were operated after the stage services had finished.
THE MODEL OPERATOR
WHEN they applied successfully at Edinburgh for an A licence in place of a special A for one vehicle, Russell of Hathgate, Ltd., were asked to explain a list of offences. Three cases of operating without a licence were referred to as technical offences, and the other offences were cases of excessive weight and overworking.
As the firm operated a fleet of 140 vehicles with 170 drivers it was pleaded that the offences were a minute proportion of their activities. They were now planning a major replacement of the fleet to meet the problem of overloading.
Mr. W. F. Quin said he had always regarded Mr. Russell as a model operator and he was contenting himself with the issue of a warning.