Effort to Stabilize Rates in the North
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AMOVEMENT for establishing a rates stabilization committee was announced by Mr. Anthony Todd, senior vice-chairman of A.R.O., Northern Area, at the Association's third annual dinner, last Saturday, at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Mr..W. W. Walton, M.Inst.T., was chairman, and 200 guests were present.
A prediction that, in the near future, road operators would be working their tonnage right up to the hilt, was offered by Capt. J. W. Jones, of Bristol. He believed that prosperity was returning to the Tyneside shipyards.
Mr. F. A. Flin dealt with opportunities made possible by the merger between the C.M.U.A. and A.R.O. He declared that Mr. Hore-Belisha was disturbed about such matters as drivers' hours and records. If operators did not remedy their own defects in connection with records, hours and the maintenance of vehicles, he believed they would have more regulations.
Sir John Maxwell, C.M.G., Northern Licensing Authority, expressed gratification at the introduction of trolleybuses in Newcastle. He understood that the increase in -the passenger traffic was about 25 per cent. He believed that if Newcastle Corporation would abolish the tramways completely, it would go a long way in solving the difficulties of transport in Newcastle.
Three years ago he had described the Road Traffic Act as the busmeWs charter. That statement had been quoted against him time and again, but, added Sir John : "I don't retract a single word. I say the Road and Rail Traffic Act is the road haulier's charter."
Mr. Todd said that rate-cutting must be stopped. He wanted -Operators to give every consideration to the formation of a rates stabilization committee, as he believed it would be the Making Of the industry. Other speakers were the Lord'Maiyor (Alderman W. Locke), the MdoI of Gateshead; Mr. Hartley WilkinSou and Mr. Douglas Curry.