The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-22 00:00:00

THE OMNIBUS TRADE.

DEPUTATION TO THE CHANCELLOR OF THE
EXCHEQUER.
A deputation from the metropolitan stage carriage
proprietors, consisting of Mr. John Wilson (Holloway,)
Mr. 11. Edmonds (Paddington,) Mr. John Trevett (New-
road), Mr. James Costelow (Richmond Conveyance
Company,) Mr. Alfred Cowan (Atlas Company), Mr.
James Willing (Waterloo and Brixton), Mr. John
Barber (Hackney), Mr. Douglas (Hammersmith), Mr.
Elliott (King's Cross), Mr. Glover (Bow and Stratford),
Mr. John Clark (Royal Blues, Pimlico), Mr. Cranfield
(Caledonian, King's Cross), Mr. George Willan (Kings-
land), Mr. Laws (Paddington), Mr. Benton (Padding-
ton), Mr. Henry Gray, the chairman of the association,
and Mr. J. E. Bradfield, secretary, had an interview
with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Monday
afternoon, at his official residence in Downing-street.
Mr. John Wood, chairman of the Board of Inland
Revenue, was with the right honourable gentleman to
receive the deputation.
Mr. BRADFIELD read a memorial, stating "That the
London trade has since November, 1851, to the present
tinge been unprofitable, and that on the average each of
the memorialists has paid for license per annum upwards
of 1001., which has been taken out of his capital. That
the sudden and unexpected rise in all articles consumed
in the trade has materially aggravated the grievances of
your memorialists, and it is utterly impossible for your
memorialists or the trade to pay the mileage duty. That
your memorialists cannot increase their fares to make up
their losses, as the fares settled by act of Parliament for
the regulations of cabs are a complete check to their doing
so, besides the inability of the majority of parsons to pay
any increased fares. That the revenue derived from the
taxes on the London omnibuses suffered in 1853, and has
alrealy suffered in this year, from the high rate of duty
charged, anti that this duty must, in consequence of the
imminent ruin of the trade, still continue considerably
to decrease." .

The memorial concluded by praying that the ease of
the proprietors might be taken into consideration by the
Government, and such relief granted as its extreme ur-
gency demanded, setting forth at the same time the seri-
'oils consequences _which would result to the public, the
memoriaditits, and to her Majesty's Gis.venuitient, if some
relief were not afforded. • "
Mr. BRADFIELD, as seceretary,' then entered at eon- * -
length into the hardships of the trade, and said that in
the northern district 15 coaches had, within the last
month, been withdrawn ; in Glasgow 10 omnibuses had
been removed ; in London 100 omnibuses had been
taken from the streets. The town trade were working
the remainder of the carriages at a loss, and further re-
ductions must be made unless some temporary relief
were granted. The new cab act, in fixing sixpence per
mile, had taken away many of the short omnibus riders,
and was, as the memorial stated, an obstacle against
raising the passengers' fares.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER inquired whether
the case of the country proprietors differed from that of
the town ?
Mr. BRADFIELD stated that the country proprietors
would doubtless pray that the relief, if granted, should
extend to them.
Mr. JOHN CLARK (proprietor of the Royal Blues,
Pimlico) said that he carried the public for lower prices
than the railways, charging only 4d. for a distance of 4i
miles. He contended that such vehicles ought not to
be taxed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER inquired whether
the proprietors could in general carry their passengers
at Parliamentary fares.
Mr. BRADFIELD said that if the proprietors were
placed upon the same footing as the trains, they would
carry the public at id. a mile, which would greatly be-
nefit the population.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that was not
previously understood by him, but with reference to the
qiestion of the composition he should wish to be sup-
plied with further information, as at present he did not
think he could advise it.
Mr. John "Wilson (Holloway), Mr. James Willing,
and Mr. Cranfield, having made some remarks, the de-
Iputation, who had been favoured with an interview of
an hour, retired.