TRAMS AND BUSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19040, 10 June 1925, Page 12

TRAMS AND BUSES.

COMPETITION IN BRITAIN. TAXATION AND CONTROL FEE OF £6O TO £B4 A YEAR. Reference to the controversy regarding tramway and motor-bus competition was made by Mr, Leo M. Myers, formerly of Auckland, in his address when presiding at the 21st annual meeting of the British Automobilo Traction Company in London recently. Remarking that the company had attained its majority, Mr. Myers said it was incorporated in March, 1905. In 1907 the operation of rogular motor omnibus services was commenced in London, and was followed shortly afterwards by the opening of services on the coast and in _ certain provincial districts. Since that time the history of the company has been one of continuous progress until to-day it possesses substantial holdings in companies operating between them about 1500 motoromnibuses. The dividend paid to ordinary shareholders for-the last 11 years has averaged slightly under 8 per cent., while for the last five years a uniform dividend of 10 per cent, has been paid. The investments of the company are spread over many parts of the United Kingdom, from Cumberland in tho north to Brighton and Bournemouth in the south, and from Llandudno in the west to the eastern counties.

" One has heard a great deal during the last 12 months of the heavy obligations thrust upon the tramway companies to maintain a large portion of the road which is used mainly by vehicles other than tramcars themselves," said Mr. Myers. " While I claim to be fully sympathetic with tho position of the tramway industry in England, it cannot be too widely knpwn that omnibuses are taxed for tho privilege of using the roads to tho extent of £6O to £B4 per vehicle per annum—a heavy impost indeed. It may bo considered desirable to protect tramways already established against the competition by omnibuses upon their routes. Ido not say this would bo unfair. May Ibo permitted to remind you, however, of tho effect of the motoromnibuses upon the life of England. Tho omnibus in tho provincial centres has proved itself a romarkablo benefit to the residents in those localities, and has particularly improved the amenities of rural life., Owing to tho enterprise of shareholders of companies such as this, it is now possible for people in many.remote areas of Croat Britain to be' picked up at their doors and carried to the nearest village or town, there to do their shopping, or indulge in friendly intercourse. Tho loneliness that for decades has characterised tho life of many rural settlers has been overcome by .tho development of the internal combustion engine, and it must bo gratifying to shareholders to feel that then* investments aro the means, not only of providing themselves with a dividend, but of improving the amenities of life of those living- in tho lonely parts of tho country. Thus aro you performing a public service. "I am sorry that thcro is a certain tension at tho present time between the omnibus companies and some municipalities who own tramway systems. This has arisen on tho one hand out of tho recent refusal of Parliament to sanction tho extension of the operation of omnibuses by certain' large muncipalities, and, on tho other, duo to tho Minister of Transport having, on appeal, over-ridden the refusal of certain town councils to grant licenses to omnibus proprietors to run omnibuses into the town oyer tho tramway routes. , Behind tho matter lies a big question of principle. It'will be common ground that it is in tho interest of all that long-distanco omnibuses should be allowed to run right into tho towns, and not be compelled to transfer their passongers to a tramcar at the boundary."