The Danger of Fixing Fares at Too High a Level.
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WHAT will happen if, when road-travel fares are fixed by the Traffic Commissioners, the railway companies commence an under-cutting campaign by means of their "cheap day" and other excursion tickets? This question, in the minds of operators of public-service vehicles, is partly responsible for their hesitancy in submitting to Traffic Commissioners agreed schedules of fares for possible adoption. The alternative, however, is to leave it to the Commissioners to fix the fares unaided, and this they will certainly do if necessary. Whether operators co-operate or not, the fear of future under-cutting by the railways re mains, so that nothing is gained by not facing the problem.
As to this railway-fare apprehension, it cannot be dealt with until and unless it materializes. The very possibility of it ,should suffice to demonstrate the advisability of not fixing road fares too high in the first instance. If the Commissioners be left without guidance to decide the fares, by fixing them at too high a level they may bring further calamities upon the road-travel industry.