IRELAND'S FIRST SLEEPER-COACH.
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A Big Gathering of Prominent Transport Men Marks the Demonstration Run of a Vehicle which was Fully Described in our Last
Week's Issue.
ONE of the greatest gatherings of Irish bus owners and agents, journalists and politicians took place in Belfast on December 291h, when Mt. T. J. Furey, of Messrs. Furey's Tours, Dublin, brought a party from Dublin on the first of his new sleeper coaches, a •fully illustrated description of "which aPPeared „in: our special "Outlook Ntunber " published last week. The run had both social and commercial objects. Primarily it was a demonstration of the coach and its capabilities ; seeondly, it was a meeting of bus people from each side of the .Irish border to discuss the problem of thecustoms line and their mutual interests.
So far as the demonstration was concerned the run must. be considered n complete success. Those privileged to travel in ths coach acclaimed it a most comfortable type of vehicle, whilst at every wayside stop interested crowds swarmed around what was to them a
novelty. Mr. Furey's , is the first sleeper coach to appear in the country and, accordingly, the publictook a tremendous interest in it, -and in Belfast and Dublin thousands Watched the, arrival and departure of the vehicle. It should be recalled that •the basis of the vehicle is an A.E.C. chassis, whilst the unusually interesting body is a product of Messrs. Strachans.
The Dublin party included Senator Sean Milroy, Mr. R. J. P. Mortishead, a well-known Irish labour leader, Mr. E. A. Aston, of the Pioneer Road Bureau, Dublin, and several bus representatives. The members' of the party were met on their arrival at the Grand Central. Hotel, Belfast, by Mr. W. • P. O'Neill, chairman of the Ulster Motor Coach Owners' Association, Mr. 'James Boyd, the secretary of that organization, Mr. M. McCrea, managing director of the Belfast Omnibus Co., Capt. S. C. S. Hutchinson, J.P., Mr. W. Crawford, Imperial Bus Service, and 'several other representati7es of him companies. The Belfast tarty was taken for ft short run and then luncheon was served.
After lunch, Mr. O'Neill occupied the Proposing "The .Prosperity of the Irish Free State.," Mr. Boyd referred to the administration of the streets of • Belfast by the city tramways manager.
Senator Milroy, in response, said the Free State used to be said to have the worst roads in the British Empire, but now its roads were Second to none.
'The Prosperity of Northern Ireland" was proposed by Mr. T. Fitzpatrick, said to be the oldest bus proprietor in Ireland. He said that those who looked upon transport Aevelopment as being likely to bring, about a reunion between north and south had at the hack of their minds the results of the civilizins-' influences which Were associated with this de ielopmert.
Capt. Hutchinson said the development of the bus industry in Ulster had been amazing, but no „industry in modern times had been so harassed and embarrassed. Men like Catherwood and McCrea had brought new interests, to the north.
As Mentioned in our article published last week, we „understand that the new sleeper coaches will be used on the Dublinto Cork service. Others vehicles of a similar type are, it is stated, on order, and Operations will subsequently be commenced on the Dublin to Limerick and Dublin to Waterford routes.