Further Warnings on Fares
Page 40
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THE chairman of Sheffield Transport Committee, Cllr. S. I. Dyson, has issued a warning that fares on the municipal undertaking may have to be increased. There is difficulty, he says, in recruiting sufficient platform staff, which may be because of working conditions and the pay scale.
Employees are entitled to a substantial increase in wages, but better standards can be secured only by an increase in revenue, and this in turn will have to be achieved by higher fares.
Cllr. Dyson points out, however, that Sheffield Transport Department are part of a national negotiating organization, and any deviation from national decisions is wrong.
In Birmingham, Aid. Harry Watton, chairman of the transport committee, warned the City Council that current applications for increased fares (The Commercial Motor, June 14) would not cover the cost of a pay rise for bus crews. The situation in transport nationally was "very precarious and very dangerous," and there was likely to be a further decline in the number of passengers carried by bus undertakings.
Oldham will also have to apply for fare increases when a wage settlement is reached. A special committee, which deals with fare increases, has adjourned for the time being to await the outcome of the award. Then its recommendations will be passed on to the town council.
The Burnley, Colne and Nelson joint undertaking expect to be able to avoid immediate increases when the wage negotiations are concluded, Mr. J. P. Senior, the general manager, stated last week. However, the claim would bring nearer the day when the fares structure would have to be revised again, he added.
Bradford Corporation have applied to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners for increased and revised fares on all their motorbus and trolleybus services. They are seeking to shorten fare stages.