Fine Weather Had Twofold Effect
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LTHOUGH the result of last year's f–k working was not unsatisfactory, the excellent summer of 1959 had had a twofold effect on Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., said Mr. R. P. Beddow, chairman, at Maidstone last week.
The tine weather had encouraged the ever-growing use of private cars, which resulted in passenger abstraction and increased pressure on an inadequate road system. This made it difficult to operate vehicles efficiently and to time.
The introduction of' a shorter working week in more industries had created a further operating problem. The practice had reduced the working of a large part of the fleet to a five-day week. The absence of staggered hours had also necessitated the introduction of relief vehicles for a short time only in the evenings.
The company's latest economy measures aimed at a reduction in fleet strength. The latest efforts were directed towards 78-seat double-deck vehicles and dual-purpose 40-seat one-man-operated single-deckers, said Mr. Beddow.
Although the scheme to replace trolleybuses by oil-engined buses its the Hastings-Bexhill area had encountered teething troubles in the initial stages, it had settled down to smooth. working during the past year, it was reported.
During the same period £500,000 had been spent on new rolling stock, properties and plant. Delivery had been taken of 104 new vehicles.