OILERS OR TROLLEYBUSES FOR MANCHESTER?
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A THREE-HOURS' meeting on 1-1, Wednesday of last week brought something of a change in the position regarding the abandonment of trams in Manchester in favour of oil-engined buses on most routes„ with trolleybuses on others. The general and parliamentary committee met to consider the report of the special sub-committee of 12 councillors, which was appointed in September last, to prepare a fresh review of facts, figures and expectations, ready for the January meeting of the city council.
The sub-committee, only the previous week, had decided to send forward the transport committee and manager's scheme for approval by the general and parliamentary committee, and thence to the council, for final approval. That decision was arrived at by a remarkable vote. Of the 12 members of the sub-committee, three voted " for," two were absent, and there were none " against," as several did not register their opinions. Thus it was by a " minority vote that the subject came back to the general and parliamentary committee on Wednesday, and this committee realized that there was a convincing attitude indicating favour of certain details of the scheme.
These "dissensions " are understood to be chiefly related to the extent of trolleybus operation, as many members think that they ought to be more extensively adopted than is provided for in the transport committee's project. The electricity committee and officials are, of course, concerned, because the abandonment of trams, with the widespread use of oil-engined buses, would gravely affect the consumption of current, and the works have been developed, during many years, to cope with the growing demands of the trams, as well as a general expansion in electricity usage.
With these conflicting views, and expressions that the whole matter was such that it ought not to be hurried— although it is now four months since the council deputed the special committee to investigate further -the general and parliamentary committee, on Wednesday, referred the matter back to the special committee, particularly with reference to the comparative costs of the changeover. The protrolley councillors and the public take this resolution as being a compliment to their views and expressions.
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