Western Welsh Absolved from Contempt of Court
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
VVHEN the hearing began before the South Wales Licensing Authority,
last week, of the application of Western Welsh Omnibus Co., Ltd., for permission to modify fares on a mileage basis, Mr, Meurig Evans, representing the objectors, said the concern had been guilty of contempt of court: Mr. Evans said that a statement of the applicants' case and of the evidence which they proposed to adduce before the Licensing Authority had been published in a local newspaper at the concern's instigation.
" A statement of this kind," said Mr.
Evans, " it published in relation to proceedings pending in any criminal or civil court, would constitute a most flagrant contempt of court." He added that such action made it difficult, if not impossible, for the court to come to an impartial decision.
No Contempt Intended Mr. T. G. Davies. general manager, said there was no intention of holding the court in contempt or of trying to influence it in any way. The Press conference which gave rise to the statement objected to was called to answer numerous references in the Press which gave only the objectors' side of the case.
Mr. H. J. Thom, the Licensing Authority, accepted Mr. Davies' statement and said that the tribunal was not il any way prejudiced by statements
published in the Press. Pending any action the objectors might take in a higher court, the hearing would proceed.
For the company, it was stated that, if granted. the application would put
all fares on a comparative basis. or the single fares affected, 20,694 would go up, 6,040 would be unchanged and 7,125 would be reduced. Return fares would be based on single rate plus 66i per cent., except on routes common to other operators. If granted, the revisions proposed would augment revenue by £124,598 a year. Together with the increases granted last month, the revenue would go up by £153,800 a year.
Harsh Doctrine Declaring that the company was one of the wealthiest in the area, Mr. Evans said they had £500,000 in the bank and reserves which had gone up 10 times since the war. The company had made over ilm. profit in the post-war years. Of the capital now employed, 77 per cent, had been provided by the travelling public and 23 per cent, by the shareholders, He suggested it was a rather harsh doctrine that passengers shonld not only provide extra 'capital, but also interest or dividends on that capital: Decision was reserved.
Decision was also reserved on the application of Birkenhead Corporation, heard last week by the North Western Licensing Authority. At March 31, 1952, the undertaking had a deficit of £47,000. This was the amount by which it was hoped to augment revenue with the new fares proposed.
Additions of id. and Id. to most fares were suggested, as well as the abolition of three-day returns. The Licensing Authority declared that the proposed fare structure seemed reasonable and would not be an undue burden on any section of the population.
£8,000 Loss The Northern Licensing Authority has approved the application of Venture Transport Co. (Newcastle), Ltd., to remove odd id. units in fares from 4ide1s. by the addition of id. and to add Id, in other cases. The concern also proposed the addition of 2d. on single fares over Is. and modified return and 12-journey rates. It was stated that on current fares a loss of £8,000 a year was being incurred. The new rates would produce a profit of £18,364 before deducting income tax.
Burnley, Colne and Nelson Joint Omnibus Board have also been granted new fare scales. It was stated recently that the 'undertaking had an accumulated deficit of £124,000.
Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., have been successful in their approach to the East Midland Licensing Authority. During the past year, the company stated, costs had risen by £87,000. The company were granted permission to add Id. to ordinary and workmen's return fares and to abolish those which. as a result of the increase, became double the single fare. These increases would augment revenue by 150,000 a year.
Barton Transport, Ltd., have been granted increased charges on the same scale as T.M.T. Since fares last went up in April last year. costs had risen by £56,250 a year, it was slated. The new rates would augment revenue by £30.000 a year.
East Midland Succeed East Midland Motor Services, Ltd., have been granted permission to revise rates as applied for.
A new application for all-round fare increases has been filed by Western National Omnibus Co.. Ltd., and Southern National Omnibus Co., Ltd. Selective increases are being sought as a method of relating each fare to the distance travelled, in accordance with the wish expressed by the Western Licensing Authority.
It is therefore proposed to increase fare k up 10 and including 5d. by Ad.. those from 6d. to Is. by Id., those from Is. Id. to Is. 6d. by Id. or 2d., and thereafter by approximately Id. in Is. It is also suggested that the lid. ticket be retained for journeys up to 0.66 .mile. Revised return and seasonticket rates are also proposed, the suggestion being that the discount on these tickets be further reduced.
Yorkshire Woollen District Transport Co., Ltd.. have also lodged a new application for all-round increases.