"THE WICKED RAILWAYS IN 1838"
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QUESTIONS as to why the railway companies should oppose applications by bus operators in respect of new business were asked by Mr. J. H. Stirk, chairman of the East Midland Traffic Commissioners, at a traffic court in Nottingham last week, when objection was raised by the L.N.E. and L.M.S. railway companies to an application by Mr. J. 0. Morley, of Leicester, to run, a road excursion to Glasgow.
It was explained that the excursion, arranged primarily so that people could attend the Glasgow Exhibition, included a tour with stops in the Lake District and Blackpool.
"Mr. A. Chisholm, for the L.M.S., contended that the railways provided adequate facilities, and Mr. Stirk asked why the companies should claim this traffic entirely. The Exhibition was a new attraction which had been " boosted " by people in auth6rity, and it was the duty of Traffic Commissioners, if people wanted to travel by road to the Exhibition, to grant facilities. This was new business ; surely the road companies had a right to a share in it.
"If we are going into the ethics of the road and rail question, I have a poster dated 1838," said Mr. Stirk, " referring to the wicked railways taking traffic from the roads, It is a skit on the railway, and it was given to me by a very prominent member of your company." Some laughter followed this remark.
The application, subject to a period limitation, was granted.