Independents Penalized to Help Combines
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By Edgar 1NaIlett, F.C.R.A., A.F.1., Secretary, Allied Bus Owners' Protection Society Vir/ HITST I am of the opinion VV that reasonable and properly administered legislation could have been of considerable benefit to passenger-transport operators, the efforts of the Traffic Commissioners, particularly in the West Midland Area, have not achieved any measure of success from our point of vie*.
In this area, private owners were the pioneers of what was regarded throughout the country as being a first-class system of transport, and credit was due to the adruinistra.tion and control by the local authorities. Under the jurisdiction of the Traffic Commissioners, however, services have been considerably decreased in frequency, fares have been increased, and 300 to 500 drivers and conductors have lost employment. The largest concerns in the district appear to have dominated in all matters since the Commissioners took charge. Where it has been a question of arranging co-ordinated fare-tables and time-tables, the powerful companies seem to have coerced the smaller men into agreement with their plans, resulting in reduced takings for the other parties. "
The travelling public has been inconvenienced to such an extent by the curtailment of facilities that resolutions of protest have been passed by Stoke-onTrent City Council, North Staffs Chamber of Commerce and North Staffs Traders Council. So far, nothing has been done to provide adequate services for workpeople, which are an important need of the locality.