The Malta Independent on Sunday
The Maltese Motor Bus (‘Ch
In the 1920s, Giuseppe Simiana, who was born in 1894 in Birżebbuġa and later lived Tarxien (at that time Casal Tarxien), was a willing, capable and energetic young man who enlisted with the KOMRM (King’s Own Malta Regiment of Militia) ‘ A’ Company in October 1907. His serial number was 6582.
In August 1920, Giuseppe applied for a transfer to the (RASC) Royal Army Service Corps to keep himself trained on motorcar engines. He was a mechanic and could repair any motor engine.
In fact, by August 1920, he had already served 13 years as a Corporal and another three years in the Royal Engineers (RE) at their workshop as a mechanic on traction engines (rollers).
During the First World War, his duties were the cleaning and chipping of boilers at the Marsa Steam Laundry, there again with the RE.
On 25 November 1921, Simiana was granted permission by the Passport Office to emigrate to Egypt and by 1925, Giuseppe Simiana had been employed for four years at the Aircraft Depot, Aboukir, Egypt as a carpenter.
All these jobs would pave the way and help Giuseppe on his return to Malta as they gave him invaluable experience when he owned motor buses later on in life in the 1930s.
In March 1931, the Malta railway was unable to compete any more with the amount of motor buses due to the commercial viability of the new bus service; the government had no other option but to close down the railway which had been operating since 1883.
In July 1930, the re-organisation of the Malta bus service took place with a committee appointed for this purpose. The reason for this re-organisation was the uncontrolled competition and indiscriminate licensing.
A Traffic Control Board was also set up at the end of the year to regulate the rivalry between the BMC (British Motor Company) Operators of a fleet of 30 Thornycroft BC type buses and the private owners of a fleet of small buses built on an American chassis.
On his return to Malta, Simiana became a bus owner and these se
ries of documents give a clear picture on what it meant to be a bus owner and operator in Malta. They also reveal how buses were advertised and promoted by local bus builders and vendors to potential owners, as well as a series of some transactions backed with documentary evidence regarding the purchases of such buses and their
upkeep.
Promotion of new Motor Buses
A letter dated 16 November 1931 in the Maltese language printed on Gasan Ford Distributors letterhead as agents of Ford cars, trucks and tractors asked, Giuseppe Simiana as a motor bus driver whether he would like to change his char-a-bancs (buses) to newer models. At the time, Ford was offering owners with trucks the possibility of buses taking from 20 to 28 passengers. The letter also warned interested parties of false information that was going round that Ford vehicles were not reliable and not worth buying. This false information was being spread (according to the letter) by people without a conscience and using the means of unfair competition with the sole aim of furthering their interests and profits, but not the interests of the consumer.
In fact, the letter goes on to say that Gasan was ready to prove that Ford trucks offered the best service to passengers and that such trucks were cheaper than other motor buses. In addition, the writer says that spare parts were always available and that such vehicles were very economical on petrol and oil consumption.
The promotion letter also states that Ford Motor Buses could be sold ready painted, with seven wheels complete with tubes and tyres, and double passenger seats for the prices shown as follows:
• Ford Truck accommodating 20 passengers – £310
• Ford Truck accommodating 28 passengers – £310
The above prices were exclusive of the licence which had to be paid by the purchaser. In case of hire purchases, the prices were slightly more expensive.
Other advantages offered were that the purchased motor bus would be eligible to six months free servicing at Gasan’s garage in Gzira, which was equipped with the best machinery as well as a guarantee of 18 months on all parts that had any latent defect. The interested party was also offered a free trial of the bus.
Examination of Motor Buses
In 1930, Malta had 385 licensed route buses, several of these owned by the bus drivers themselves. However, in 1931, the Traffic Control Board was formed bringing in great discipline and regulation in the bus industry. New routes were introduced with a formalised trip schedule, making the service increasingly efficient and organised.
Motor buses were subjected to an annual rigorous examination at Police Headquarters in Valletta. If the driver did not take the bus for the annual examination, he was suspended and could not use the bus.
In January 1932, Giuseppe Simiana as owner of vehicle No. 914 (motor bus) was requested to take his vehicle for the annual examination. The Traffic Committee for 1932 had decided that the inspection of buses were to be done as early as possible. In fact, Simiana was notified to take his bus on 7 January 1932.
The motor buses inspected were to be clean, both the body, chassis and the upholstery so that the vehicle could be inspected as quickly as possible and the owner could continue working immediately.
The vehicle was passed on to a Committee of Experts for examination and the owner was given a checklist to know what to comply with for the inspection and test: • Vehicles were to be stocked
with fire-extinguishers • The bus had to be fitted with a
stepney • Tools • The correct route livery