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Clinching Their Case
Page 46
Page 47
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IXT HEN the Bristol OmnibuS‘ Co., Ltd., successfully applied
V to the Western Traffic Commissioners to raise fares, their case was fairly well clinched by the submission of an impressive. document on which the -company's rates were compared with those prevailing in a. number of other towns.
On the left of the document was a column of ticket prices, 2d. and so on, againstwhich could be read the distance a passenger could travel for his money according to whether he was in Bristol, Birmingham, Leicester or certain other places. The object, of course, was to show the Commissioners how low fares were in Bristol. The Commissioners were presumably duly convinced, for with the minimum of deliberation they decided to put them up.
Comparisons are odious; that is why they are so attractive. Why is it that for 3d. one can travel for only 0.6 mile in Gravesend but 1.53 miles in
Nottingham? And why should a 4d. fare work out to 3.64d. per mile in Hastings but 2d. in Portsmouth?
If the submission of documents of this kind is to become. common, some degree of prior consultation among operators might be necessary. High fares do not necessarily mean high profit, and it might not be wise to cite another undertaking's relatively dearer scales as evidence to support an application for a fares increase.
nI2 In the case of Bristol, though,,it is quite remarkable that even the new rates are so cheap: Is. 7d. will take you for 20 miles.
Credit Where Due ?
A T a luncheon held in London last week to mark the sale /A of the millionth tin of Molyslip molybdenum-disulphide lubricant supplement, Baron Beck, chairman of the Slip Group of Companies, gave some interesting facts and figures relating to Britain's position in the world export markets, Interesting as they were, however, they made gloomy listening, for they disclosed how British exports of road vehicles were tagging behind those of same of our competitors.
Finish and after-sales service were cited as being poor compared with those of other countries, but a point not made by Baron was that certain countries, such as Germany, were le to offer credit facilities spread over is period up to three les that given by our own people.
waiting a Precedent ?
r is well known that various Governments keep an eye on :ach other's policies in respect of ways and means of keeping lway systems' heads financially above water. What one .Intry does is likely to be repeated elsewhere.
Eherefore it is not without significance to British road transrt operators that the West German Government are to able the subsidy granted to the State-owned railways to the le of about £60m. a year, and waive claims against the underjog totalling approximately £183m. in value.
n future, the West German railways will be able to alter es and charges without the Government's approval, unless ttcrs of principle are concerned.
"ionic weeks ago, the political air in this country was life h reports about what the Government were proposing to to help British Railways in their pecuniary distress, and ;gestions concerning subsidies and the servicing of railway cks out of national funds were current.
kri announcement about what the Government are actually ng to do is. however, still to come. Could it be that they awaiting some foreign precedent? If so, the West Germans m to have supplied one.
.uth Will Out
HE mystery of the missing Rolls-Royce used by the Lord Mayor of Hull was solved last week after repeated questions a councillor. A bus backed into it in the garage and if has :e been under repair. The bus driver is duly abashed.