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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
THE LATEST NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
HIGH COURT REMITS FARES CASE TO RECORDER.
LAST Friday a King's Bench Divisional Court heard an appeal by Mr. Goad, clerk to the Eastern Traffic Commissioners, against a decision of the Recorder of Ipswich holding that the Fs stern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., could not be convicted of an offence alleged under Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.
It was stated that the Recorder had quashed, on appeal, a decision of the local justices, who held that the bus company had contravened the Act by wilfully charging lesser fares than those stipulated by the Commissioners It appeared that on eight occasions lower fares were charged by conductors on thc company's buses, but the Recorder declined to affirm the conviction, holding that he could not convict the company of the negligence alleged unless he was satisfied that the negligence was that of a responsible official of the company and the negligence of a bus conductor in not charging the proper fares was not that of the company.
Counsel for the Treasury contended that such a decision was wrong and it was the business of the company to see that the conditions of the licence were carried out.
The company was, it was stated, anxious to show that there had been mere mistakes by the conductors and no negligence on the concern's part. The undertaking could produce the conductors and the supervisors and other people to prove the system of organization in force to prevent the breaking of the conditions on the licence.
The Court remitted the case to the Recorder for further hearing. Lord Hewart said the view held by the Recorder was wrong and, as there was a case to he met by the company, the matter should be heard out, The appeal was allowed with costs.
YORK MERGER DETAILS.
LAST week we announced that York Corporation had approved a scheme for merging the municipal transport undertaking with the local business of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., but pressure of space prevented us from giving details of the agreement.
The agreement provides for the setting up of a joint committee. The tramways and trolleybuses are to be managed and operated by the West Yorkshire Company, subject to consultation as to ceasing to operate any route. The corporation is to enter into a management agreement with the B3g West Yorkshire concern for the operation of all the municipal motorbus services, and the net profits will be divided equally between the two transport undertakings.
There is to be no competition by the long-distance buses of the-company in the area of the joint committee, and the " West Yorkshire" is to pay a percentage of the gross receipts from all passengers carried in its other buses who are picked upor set down in the area of the joint committee. The agreement, which is to come into force on April 1, is for a period of 21 years.
CUMBERLAND COMPANY TO BUY SEVEN ROUTES?
APPLICATION is, it is understood, to be made by Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd., to the Northern Traffic Commissioners for sanction to take over seven bus routes in Aspatria, Cockermouth, Wigton, Ireby, Mealsgate and Caldbeck, which are at present operated by Mr. J. W. Stoddart, whose licence expires in June.
MUST LONDON TRANSPORT TAKE OVER DIRECTORS?
T"question of whether the London Passenger Transport _ Board was liable to find positions for four leading officials of the Westminster Omnibus Co., Ltd., one of the concerns to be taken over by the Board, was considered by the London Passenger Transport Arbitration Tribunal, on Monday.
The company was incorporated in July, 1924, with a nominal capital of £5,000, and acquired the bus business previously carried on by Messrs. J. H. Rich, W. J. Coleman and F. H. Rose, who were permanent directors and, additionally, managing director, treasurer and secretary (all permanent) respectively. Mr. J. D. Gabb was also permanent director and cashier. The company owned 11 buses and had an annual turnover of £32,000.
The Westminster concern argued that the appointments were properly made and formed part of the business to be transferred to the Board. London Transport denied that, even if contracts had been entered into, as alleged, they were binding on the company or Board. In so far as the directors were "existing officers or servants" of the company, they must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of the Act. It was further submitted that directorship ceased with the closing of a concern. The case was concluded. The Tribunal continued on Tuesday.
BRIGHTON AGAIN TO INVESTIGATE BOARD SCHEME.
A MEETING of Brighton Town 1-1 Council has decided to convene a conference of representatives of East and West Sussex County Councils and Brighton, Hove, Portslade, Southwick and Shoreham Corporations to consider transport matters in the area. The object is to prepare a scheme under which a joint transport board would be set up, involving the purchase, either by consent or compulsion, of the local businesses of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., and Southdown Motor Services, Ltd. A similar proposal was put forward in October last, but was rejected.
One of the councillors maintained 'that the proposal would eliminate wasteful competition, and that the public control of bus fares might lead to reduced charges. Moreover, cross services might be inaugurated, which otherwise might not be secured.
IMPORTANT SPEAKERS AT BRISTOL DINNER.
THE Bristol and West of England Coach Owners Association held its first annual dinner, last Friday, under the chairmanship of Mr. C. W. Jordan, who stated that the Association was formed in 1930 and now had 95-percent. membership.
The speakers were Councillor Clifford Thomas and Messrs. F. A. Flin, J. Bryant, C. W. Jordan. R. F. P. Iloiloway, N. Ker Lindsay, M.P., W. E. Gough and H. Drewett.
POPULAR COACH COMPETITION.
A LARGE number of entries was re
ceived for the " road-cruisers " competition organized in connection with the commissioning of 12 new coaches by as many companies, running tours to and from Blackpool. The 12 vehicles were on view in Blackpool, Preston, Burnley, etc., and visitors purchasing a photographic souvenir were enabled to participate in a ballot to determine which were the most attractive vehicles.
At the prize distribution at Blackpool, Mr. H. Bottomley, assistant managing director of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., announced that the order of merit, as decided by the competition, was as follows :—(1) Woods,' (John Bull), (2) Standerwicks, (3) Ribble, (4) Bracewell, (5) Wrights, (8) Hebble, (7) Walker Taylor and (8) West Yorkshire.Three entrants correctly placed all eight coaches in this order and shared the first prize.
GLASGOW SECURES TROLLEYBUS RUNNING POWERS.
AFTER a hearing which occupied three days, a panel of Commissioners representative of the Houses of Lords and Commons decided, • on March 22, to permit Glasgow Corporation to run trolleybuses on tram routes in the city, except the HillfootMilngavie route, which has never been worked by trams. The corporation also sought power to make trolleybus bodies, but this was refused.
For the corporation it was explained that, up to May 31 last, £8,666;000 had been spent on the transport undertaking, the annual gross revenue amounting to £2,829,000 and the net surplus to £24,689. The bus system employed 328 vehicles.
Counsel for the corporation said that he knew of no case of Parliament refusing powers to run trolleybuses. He added that the cost of working trolleybuses, according to statistics from 22 local authorities in England, averaged 10.19d. per mile. Glasgow's trams cost 11.29d. per mile to run and the buses 10.837d. It was not intended to run trolleybuses and trams on the• same routes.
On the second day Mr. Lachlan Mackinnon, transport manager, gave evidence. He said he understood that, when it was necessary to make extensive renewals to the tram tracks, the question of replacing the trams by trolleybuses would be considered by the council.
For the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., which opposed the application, it was stated that, if the Order was passed, all the good that had been done by the Traffic Commissioners in regulating services would probably be undone.
On the third day the Commissioners announced their decision. The corporation's counsel commented on the proposal of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., to take over the municipal transport system.
On behalf of the opposing manufacturers, it was stated that there were 20 big bodybuilders who were able to manufacture 20,000 bodies a year.
CONTRACT CARRIAGES: HIGH COURT APPEAL WON.
AFEW days ago a King's Bench Divisional Court allowed, with costs, an appeal by Mr. R. C. Evans, clerk to the South Wales Traffic Commissioners, against a refusal of justices at Merthyr Tydfil to convict Red and White Services, Ltd., of a contractcarriage offence.
It was explained for the appellant that, last June, a Mrs. Davies hired from Red and White Services, Ltd., a coach to take a party to London. She paid an inclusive sum of £17 10s. A party of 21 persons travelled by the coach, each paying a separate fare ; they were not all known to each other and were not members of a club or guild.
The coach company contended that this was a contract carriage used on a special occasion for the conveyance of a private party, but Mr. Evans argued that the coach had been used as an express carriage. The justices, however, declined to convict.
Allowing the appeal with costs, Lord Hewart said the case was too plain for argument if the respondent could not show on the facts that the coach was a contract carriage or that the occasion was a special one for the conveyance of a private party. Therefore, the case would go back to the justices.
TWO OPERATORS' LicuricEs SUSPENDED.
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tion, the East Midland Traffic Commissioners have suspended from March 18-April 1 the licences of Mr. T. H. l3rough, and from March 18April 15 the licences held by Mr. J. Aldred.
SPECIAL EASTER FARES IN SCOTLAND.
AS a special concession to holiday travellers, coach fares at a id. per mile will be in operation in Scotland at Easter. Mr. W. Alexander states that his company (W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., Falkirk) will continue these cheap fares through the summer months.
Mr. Alexander has outlined great developments for this summer. A fleet of 75 ccaches for long-distance work is being built, and the vehicles will be electrically heated and equipped with wireless sets. When completed they will bring the fieet up to 1,000.
"EAST YORKSHIRE" WINS ON HULL-NEWCASTLE ROUTE.
THE Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners have renewed the licence of East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., Hull, for a Hull-Newcastle daily express service from May to September inclusive.
When the application came before the Commissioners, it was opposed by Mr. George Galley, of Newcastle. For the applicant, it was stated that there had been considerable litigation concerning the route. It was admitted that last summer, the company sustained a loss on the route, but this was alleged to be due to unlicensed competition by Mr. Galley.
PARLIAMENT AND CARDIFF TRAFFIC CENTRE.
AN important section of the Cardiff Corporation Bill, which has been under consideration by a select committee of the House of Commons, is that which seeks to empower the corporation to acquire about 81, acres of land north and south of Wood Street for the laying out of a traffic centre near the railway station. The centre would include a coach and bus station with waiting rooms, ticket offices,
public gardens, etc. The clauses in question were approved.
Other clauses which were agreed to were those empowering the corporation to substitute trolleybus services for the tramways as the existing tramway tracks become worn out. FLEXIBLE EXCURSION FARES FOR WALES?
ALARGE number of prosecutions has been brought by the South Wales Traffic Commissioners against coach operators who have charged less than the authorized fares. In most cases the defence has been that the work was concerned with private parties.
There is understood to be a considerable amount of dissatisfaction in South Wales with the system under which minimum fares for excursions and tours are fixed. It is often contended that, although the establishment of regular fares for bus services has proved beneficial, similar hard-and-fast scales for excursions have been unsatisfactory. Particularly is this said to be the case in view of the fact that railway companies are able to undercut the agreed coach fares.
The Commissioners may be asked to permit a certain amount of elasticity in the agreed fares in order to allow equal competition with the railways. These exceptional fares would be permitted only on occasions when the railways advertised excursions to race meetings and other events isivolving heavy traffic. The coach fares should not be less than the advertised railway fares, or should be slightly higher, on a percentage basis, as might be determined by the Commissioners.
LOWER EXCURSION FARES FOR EAST YORKSHIRE.
A RESOLUTION in favour -of a 1—i lower standard of fares in East Yorkshire, under the new pre-bookedparty licensing scheme for excursions, which is to be submitted to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, was unanimously adopted at a recent meeting of East Yorkshire members of the Yorkshire Motor Coach and Transport Owners Association.
The resolution was to the effect that, in that part of the Yorkshire area east of Doncaster and York, fares for prebooked parties on journeys of 65-140 miles should be slightly lower than the fares for corresponding distances in other parts of the area. It is contended that the lower fares are necessary in East Yorkshire, because, generally speaking, wages are lower than in other parts of the area, and because, to a great extent, East Yorkshire is of an agricultural character.
It is anticipated that the new prebooked-party licensing scheme will be submitted to the Commissioners at an early date.
Discussing the position with our correspondent, Mr. J. Keeling, secretary of the Y.M.C.O.T.O.A., said it was hoped that the new scheme would quickly he put into operation, and that, with its scale of minimum fares on a mileage basis, it would remedy the present farecutting, which was rampant in spite of the schedule 2A system. "I have been instructed by my committee," he said, "to incur any expense which is necessary in efforts to obtain prosecutions in the courts against those responsible • for fare-cutting," EWER LICENCE TRANSFERS • NOW APPROVED.
THE Eastern and Metropolitan Traffic Commissioners have trans-. ferred to George Ewer and Co., Lid., the licence of Mr. W. H. Jacobs (Monty Super Coaches) for a London-Walton service, via Clacton and Frinton, and the licence of Sid Page, Ltd. (Bee Line Coaches), in respect of a LondonYarmouth service, via Ipswich and Lowestoft. These transfers were the subject of much controversy before the Traffic Commissioners, and have several times been referred to by The Commercial Motor.
By the co-ordination of the services, it is expected to save over 150,000 vehicle-miles per annum. Apart from alterations in the actual departure times, the frequency of the two services remains as hitherto. Co-ordination is effected by operating, for example, one coach from London at 9 a.m., this vehicle, during slack periods, carrying as far as Colchester passengers for Ipswich, Felixstowe, Dovercourt, Harwich, Clacton, Frillton, Walton, Lowestoft and Yarmouth. On arrival at Colchester, passengers for Dovercourt, Harwich, Clacton, Frinton and Walton would be transferred to short-distance coaches working between Colchester and Walton or Harwich.
The bug-distance vehicle would then proceed to Felixstowe, the passengers for places north of Ipswich, such as Lowestoft and Yarmouth, being transferred at Ipswich to another vehicle running between Ipswich and Yarmouth. Despite the considerable saving in mileage, there will be no decrease in transport facilities.
YORKSHIRE: A SECOND SUCCESSFUL APPEAL.
FOR a second time, Mr. Richard Fox, Junr., of Rothwell, has successfully appealed to the Minister of Transport against the refusal of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners to grant him a licence to operate a stage-carriage service between Wakefield and Castleford. The Minister has ordered the Commissioners to grant him a licence on the same terms as when he successfully appealed in 1932.
PRIVATE PARTY SUMMONS DISMISSED.
ASUMMONS against West Wales Motors, Ltd., with regard to a trip arranged from Pantyffynon to Cardiff for the England v. Wales international football match, was dismissed last week. The prosecution held that a condition of the road-service licence required a fare of 65. 6d. per person to be charged, whereas a fare of only 4s. 6d. was in fact made.
The company stated that the vehicle was hired as a contract carriage and -that the party was a private one within the meaning of the Road Traffic
Act. The magistrates came to the same conclusion and dismissed the summons, but agreed, if necessary, to state a case.
CARDIFF STATION PLAN CHOSEN.
r"1"HE station approach committee of Cardiff Corporation has considered schemes for the proposed bus station and has selected one with covered platforms, which is to be submitted to the Western Welsh Omnibus Co., Ltd.