MOTOR COACH DOINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS.
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Matters of Topical Interest to Proprietors of Chars-a-bancs.
Coaching in Manxiand.
Activities Although Limited in the Isle of Man are Brisk.
SCHIPPING difficulties made it impossible for the Isle of Man to make its rwowery from the effects of the war as quickly as mainland holiday towns, and it is only this season that the island has really regaihed its pre-war alt of prosperity. The pre-war sources of attraction of Dougla, and the other holiday centres of Manxland quickly got into their stride, but, with the paralysing effect of an entire suspension of business; ventures requiring new capital have been looked upon somewhat charily, and last season did not bring sufficient returns to justify an immediate launching out in new undertakings. This particularly applies to char-a-bans enterprise. The district to be covered by motor coach is somewhat thrilted, but nevertheless the chars-h-bancs which areat present in the island have done, a bri,k business since the season started, and have left a good share of. business to the horse vehicles, which each morning line from end to end the promenades of the most popular places. There is really very little competiton between the various motor coach proprietors during the busy season, and consequently there is no cutting of prices. The principal outing for the Isle of Man tourist is a tour of the island, from either Ramsey or Doug'as. The distance is stated to be "about .50. miles," and the uniform charge of 15s_ is made. •Tfouadas is the principal centre for motor coach work, and parties leave here for the island tour pp to 10 o'clock in the morning and return in the early evening. Often the coaches take an evening trip after returning from the longer one, and Castle Ruahen and Rushen Abbey • are visited, a special feature the advertising of the char-habanes proprietors being the various fetes and other attractions which are held in the evening at these places.
Leaving at about 7 o'clock and returning to Douglas about 10 o'clock the fare for evening trips is 5s. The actual mileage is comparatively 'small, however, , but the 'Isle of Man holiday maker much prefers riding to walking, and even the shortest journeys are made remunerative by the motor coach proprietors. On Sunday moinings, for instance, a busy time is experienced by the drivers of motor coaches in carrying quicklyobtained loads to the open-air service 'at Kirk Brad dan, about a mile and a half from Douglas. The journey, with passengers travelling to Kirk Braddan, is made several times, and then after the service a number of trips back to Douglas is made. Surely this mast be one of the very few instances in which the char-kbanns takes passengers to church! Near the church a policeman is required to control the heavy traffic.
For booking seats in motor coaches the proprietors have made arrangements with -shopkeepers on the promenade, and the system appears to work well. It is difficult to get seats in a char-'a-bancs travelling round the island if the would-he passenger waits until the morning upon which he desires to take the trip, especially if therehas been a good spell of fine weather. Naturally, broken weather affects advance bookings, but i in any circumstances there svery little touting for passengers for the motor coaches. They are away in good time each morning,' long before the supply of horse vehicles appears to be affected.
There would appear to be opportunities for more coaches, and doubtless the fleets at present in use on 'the island will be added to materially as time goes on, and as normal holiday conditions become more firmly established. The number
i of vehicles n use is a little deceptive, however. During the day scarcely a char-l-laancs is to be seen about Douglas. The town must be one of the few seaside resorts which is not troubled by the coach tripper problem. In Douglas there are none of those crowds of holiday makers which the daily papers have written so much about, who come into the town and go away again without spending.any money. Rather is the reverse the case. The char-iabancs invariably takes the holiday maker out of the town in the caseof Douglas, and it is Certainly doing a good work for the island in relieving, thecongestion in the principal town and making more readily accessible the smaller, but often prettier, places in the more secluded parts of Engl.d'nd's holiday ground."
Many of the roads on the island are somewhat narrow, and this necessitates caution on the part of the drivers, but the distances' tra'relled are not great, and, consequently, there is no necessity for high speeds. The road surfaces are good in almost every part of the island.
Char-a-banes,.Licences..
The Leeds Watch Committee has decided that in future licences for chars-hbanca will not be granted to persons without business prensise.a in Leeds, and not paying Leeds rates: There are at present 67 chars-k-banns licensed to ply for hire and to stand in the streets, but up to recently there has been only one stand for four Cars available in Quebec Street, The Watch Committee has had the 'matter under consideration, however, and have abolished the Quebec Street stand, but have fixed five for -weekdays and two additional ones for Sunday. Those available during the -week are; City Square, Wellington Street side, for one vehicle; City Square, Infirmary side, four • vehicles ; Infirmary -Street, north side, three vehicles; Calverley Street, west side of new portion, 40 vehicles; and Cloth Hall Street, south aide, two vehicles. For Sundays the two additional stands are at King Edward Street, north aide, for five vehicles, and Albion Street, east side, for five vehicles. Thus, accommodation in provided for 50 cars on 'Weekdays and for 60 vehicles on Sundays.