COMMISSIONERS . AND FREE TRAVEL
Page 49
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COMMENTING upon St. Helens Corporation's custom of issuing free travel passes to members of the council and co-opted members of the public assistance committee, Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, said that when he acted as transport manager to a public undertaking, earlier in his career, he did not see why his should he the Cinderella of the departments by giving free passes, when other departments did not offer free gas, water or electricity:
The application by St. Helens Corporation was considered at Manchester, on Friday last, when the chairman said that the Commissioners were concerned as to ivhat effect the issue of passes might have on the fares of the general public. "
My experience," said Mr. Chamberlain, is that no concession can be given, except in exceptional circumstances, without its having an effect on other fares. The general public is the section that pays the revenue and it has the first consideration. Could it be said that this would not, in any measure, adversely affect the fares on any stage chargeable to the general public?"
He commented that free passes would reduce the possible revenue, and so the public might lose a reduction in fares. The application was granted, the chairman stating that they would have to review the position from time to time.
BUSES TO TURN THE TIDE AT NORTHAMPTON.
THE hope that buses would prove the salvation of Northampton Corporation's transport undertaking was expressed by Councillor Chown, chairman of the transport committee, at a function held to celebrate the abolition of the tramways. Within recent years petrol-driven buses have been acquired to operate several rotites, whilst oilers have now been purchased to serve the remaining routes.
Assets valued at £200,000 are being abandoned by the transport committee in consequence of the change-over, yet the chairman visualizes a debt-free undertaking, lower fares and a more efficient service, when buses are in full operation. Last year the undertaking incurred a deficit, but it is forecast that buses will provide a surplus.
LEYLANDS TO REPLACE TRAMS.
THE general-purposes committee of I Burnley Town Council has approved the decision of Burnley, Colne and Nelson Joint Transport Committee completely to replace trams by buses, for which purpose 28 Leyland double-deck buses are to be purchased.
T.G.W.U. AND INDUSTRIAL COURT AWARD.
IN connection with the report, in our issue dated December 21, of the objections made by employees of the Rover Bus Service, Aberdeen, concerning an Industrial Court award against that company, the Transport and
General Workers Union points out that the award does not require wages higher than those specified to be reduced to that level.
The workers declared that they were contented with their conditions, but the Union took the view that the payment of wages lower than those paid by other operators in the district was unfair to the latter concerns. The award of the Industrial Court was reported in our.issue dated December 14.
BARTON CO.'s EXPANSION.
AFINE new block of offices at Chitwell, Notts., has just been opened by Barton Transport, Ltd., to accommodate its increased staff. The company was founded by Mr. T. H. Barton, in 1898, when it operated from Derby.
The concern now has a fleet of about DO passenger vehicles, most of which are of Leyland make, and has recently placed an order for a further 18 Leyland Tiger and Lion coaches and buses with Duple bodies, ranging in capacity from 32 to 39 seats.
EXPEDITING FARE CHANGES.
RESOLUTIONS for the speeding-up of variations of fares will he considered by No. 3 Regional Sub-committee on Fares at •a meeting at the Holborn Restaurant, London, on January 10, at 2.30 p.m.
THREE APPEALS IN SOUTHERN 'SCOTLAND
THREE appeals against rulings of the Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners have recently been decided by the Minister of Transport. In two cases the 'appeals have succeeded.
The Caledonian Omnibus Co., Ltd., appealed against the Commissioners' .decision to vary the conditions of a licence granted to Mr. James Dickson, -to permit the opera,tion of mystery tours from Dumfries. The appeal hag been upheld and the Commissioners have been directed to delete the mystery tours from the licence.
In reaching his decision, the Minister has had regard to the fact that the applicant led no evidence to show a need for the services which he proposed to provide, but based his case on the argument that he ought to have the same facilities as the Caledonian concern.
The Rothesay Tramways Co., Ltd., has also been successful in its appeal against the refusal of a licence for a circular service of stage carriages from Rothesay. Messrs. A. and J. Bell have failed in their appeal against the refusal of a licence for a stage service from Rothesay to Scalpsie Bay. The appellants will be required to pay costs.
S.M.T. BODY ORDER RAISES PROTEST.
DROTESTS to Sir Arthur Rose, the
Commissioner for Depressed Areas in Scotland, were made, last week, by the Scottish Council of the National Union of Vehicle Builders, concerning the action of the Scottish Motor Traction Co.. Ltd., in placing in England a contract for the supply of 180 bus bodies.
It was alleged that Scottish concerns were not requested to tender.
DONCASTER TRAMS TO GO.
DONCASTER'S last tramway route, to Woodlands, four miles out of the town, is to be converted to operation by oil-engined buses, which are on order. All the other tram routes are now served by trolleybuses. There is only one other town service on which oil-engined buses operate.