MOTOR-BUS TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 59, 7 September 1926, Page 11

MOTOR-BUS TRAFFIC

COMPETITION WITH TRAMS

BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE

SOME NEW PROVISIONS.

' The Motor Omnibus Traffic Bill, introduced in the House of Bepresentatives late last night and read a first time, in effect is on the lines of the report of the Select Committee which recently considered the regulations. Thirteen motor omnibus districts are constituted, the licensing authority in each caso being the local governing body, which is to have power to fix routes, fare3, and time-tables. Motor omnibus fares are to be at least 2d more than the corresponding fare charged by the existing tram service. The licensing authority, however, is not to be obliged to fix this additional charge for passengers whose * journey begins or ends at a point not less than a quarter of a mile from the terminus of an existing tramway or other service. Any competing bus service operating after Ist November next without a license from the local authority, will be liable to a fine of £100, and £10 additional for every day the offence is continued. A license may not be transferred unless with the endorsed consent of the licensing authority. Motor bus owners are required to provide insurance cover against a liability, arising from accidents which may occur in the course of the service. The policies may be in respect of individual vehicles, or may indemnify the owner generally against accidents that may take place in connection with Mb service. Services carried on by local authorities are to be exempted from this clause. In accordance with the recommendation of the Select Committee, owners of existing undertakings carried on in competition/with a public tramway or other service may require the local authority to purchase their service, at a price to be agreed upon between the parties, or failing that, by a Compensation Court. A Transport Appeal Board is to be set up, consisting of two representatives of the Government, of whom one shall be chair nan, one. representative of local authorities having transport services, one member representing other' local bodies, and one representing private motor omnibus services. On a petition by not less than fifty residents of a district asking for the establishment of a motor omnibus service to connect with a tramway, the local authority shall either provide such a service or refer the petition through the licensing authority to the Trans-poj-t Appeal Board, and the local authprity shall act in accordance with the board's recommendations.