London Independents Scheme
Page 60
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ON Wednesday afternoon an application was made before the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner by Mr. Eric Monkman, on behalf of Keith and Boyle (London), Ltd., United Service Transport, Ltd., Geo. Ewer and Co.. Ltd., Lewis Cronshaw, Ltd., Valliant Direct Coaches, Ltd., and Venture Transport (Hendon), Ltd., for the extinction of the seasonal seaside services of Birch Bros., Ltd., for the distribution of the territory served by that company in London, and for the abandonment and transfer of the picking-up
points. The application was made under Regulation 49, the desired operations to become effective as from the Easter period and to remain in force until the substantive applications could be heard.
From the outset it was apparent that the scheme as submitted, involving, as it did, the removal of a large London operator and the partitioning of the territory he served among a group, would meet with severe opposition from smaller operators, who had not had sufficient time to examine all the details. The Commissioner, therefore, doubted whether he would be justified in exercising, in this particular case, his jurisdiction under Regulation 40.
The question was argued at some length by Mr. PrIonkman and counsel representing Messrs. Henry Coaches, Messrs. Webber Bros., Messrs. Cream Coaches and other objectors, who also gave explicit instances where they thought that the suggested redistribution of territory would be to their disadvantage. In view of this, the Commissioner decided that the application in its Present form could not be proceeded with and it was accordingly dismissed.
The main points of the application are such that when they have been fully examined (they were published, it seems, only last Saturday) they will, no doubt, meet with more general approval. Birch Bros.' territory was undoubtedly Northwest and North London, where the Geo. Ewer, Orange Luxury and United Service Transport concerns are already well established, but where, hitherto, there has been considerable overlapping.
This, it is intended, should in futtire be avoided, Geo. Ewer reserving Northeast and the Orange Luxury, North London, with United Service adjoining the latter's territory on the North-west. A similar rearrangement of pick-ups is to be organised in the areas farther to the west, served by the remaining members of the purchasing group.