Malta Historical Society Annual General Meeting The Bus Service During the Inter-War Period: Some Social Aspects Saturday 18th February 2012 Doris Mangion B.A.(Hons) History, M.A. EUR St.
Introduction 1. Overview; 2. Setting the context; 3. Bus Network Development; 4. Bus Fares, Season Tickets and Passes; 5. Special/Hired and Seasonal Buses; 6. Complaints; and 7. Conclusion
Setting the Context 1. Railway: only from Valletta to Mtarfa; 2. Tramway: only from Valletta to Birkirkara; from Valletta to Zebbug and from Valletta to Cospicua; 3. Ferries: from Sliema to Marsamxett and from Cospicua to Valletta; 4. 1922: The Eight Hours Act reduced working week to 48hrs; 5. Buses: created jobs; 6. Inter-war years: the development of a network of buses.
Bus Network Development 1. Requests on newspapers for bus service to and from: (a) Pieta, Senglea, Kalkara, Hamrun, Custom House area in Marsa; and (b) Cospicua to Bizebbuga and Marsascala (Summer) 2. Requests through the Legislative Assembly : (a) 1933: a bus service between Cospicua and Kalkara for dockyard workers
Bus Network Development 3. Requests through petitions : a) 1931: by Parish Priest only 1 service in the morning at 05.00am requesting extension of bus service to Dingli; b) 1934: by Parish Priest a bus service from Dingli to Rabat and vice versa; c) 1936: by a Zabbar inhabitant only 4 trips 07.00am - 09.00am requesting additional trips to and from Zabbar; d) 1937: by a Ta Xbiex inhabitant requesting a bus service to Ta Xbiex; and e) 1937: by a Headmaster and others a regular bus service from Zabbar to Cospicua for non-dockyard workers
Bus Fares MGG., 15 th May 1931, G.N. 190, 447
Season Tickets DMC, 14 th April 1931, p7
Passes for School Children a) 1931: introduction of the pass: reduced fare 0700-0830 and 1600 1700. Children under 5 travelled free. Children between 5 and 10 paid half price; b) 1932: the pass could be used all day; c) 1936: the pass was used 0700-0830, 1200-1400 and 1600-1700
Late Bus Service 1. 1934: Bus service to all parts of the island till 2300. Royal Opera House s request to the CSG for the extension of the timetable to 0030am was declined; 2. 1935: extension of bus service until 2330 on certain feasts; 3. 1936: Sliema service extended until 2330; and 4. 1936: MGG notice: an additional charge of 1penny on the fare for buses leaving after 2300.
Special Buses 1. Carnival; 2. Picnic parties; 3. Horse races; 4. Fairs; 5. Feasts; 6. Football; 7. Addolorata cemetery in November; and 6. British residing in Malta - visitors day at Ghajn Tuffieha
Hired Buses 1. 1920: Cottonera Motor Car Company from Valletta, Sliema and intermediate stages to San Anton Palace for the At Home event. 2. 1926: BMC Service from Valletta to the Queen s Hall for dances; 3. 1929: hired buses to Theatre Royal, the Chalet, the Gaiety Theatre, the Australian Hall and the Governor s Garden party;
M.A.D.C. Advertisement DMC, 2 nd May 1932, p4
Seasonal Buses DMC, 28 th August 1929, p20
Complaints fares drivers service buses terminus
Complaints on Service 1. Overcrowding; 2. Buses leaving full from the terminus; 3. Buses arriving full on stops on the way; 4. Frequent stops; and 5. Timetables were not followed
Complaints on Buses 1. Frequent breakdown of buses; and 2. Smoking on buses
Complaints on Drivers 1. Bus drivers wore dirty clothes Uniforms were discussed in 1925 and introduced in 1930 by the Committee of the Re- Organisation of Motor-Traffic; 2. Stopped and picked up passengers on request; 3. Some of the drivers were not sufficiently skilled to ensure the public safety and 4. Conductors not always gave tickets
Complaints on Fares 1. Sliema fares were cheaper due to competition; 2. Raise in fares of the Balzan route due to monopoly; and 3. Special fares for Rabat workmen applied only for those who left before 06.30am
Complaints on Terminus 1. Confusion; 2. Noise of buses starting up, arriving and leaving; 3. Nuisance of shouting; and 4. Bad language by passengers and drivers
For the poor and the rich Il-Poplu, 13 ta Jannar 1931, p1
Conclusion The bus service brought about: social interaction; greater mobility; fun, comfort and efficiency in travel; and a sustainable means of transport
Thank you for your attention doris.mangion@gmail.com