Control of B.T.C. Bus Fares
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WHEN the Transport Bill came up VI' for the seventh day of the Committee Stage in the House of Lords on Monday, Viscount Swinton moved an amendment requiring that the Traffic Commissioners should approve road passenger transport fares to be charged by the British Transport Commission.
Supporting this amendment, Lord Gifford said that he thought it would not restrict the general direction of the Commission with regard to fares schemes, but would allow fares to be settled locally by the Traffic Commissioners, Viscount Addison, for the Government, declared that the amendment was quite unacceptable. If fares schemes to cover a whole area were subject to alteration by the Traffic Commissioners, the arrangements would cease to be economic and self-supporting.
Lord Swinton, replying to Viscount Addison, referred to the amendment passed the week before, making it obligatory for the B.T.C. to apply to the Licensing Authorities for licences to operate its vehicles.
If the amendment had not been made, explained Lord Swinton, the Commission would have had unlimited power to increase its fleet, and the permitted undertaker would have been allowed to run only such number as the Licensing Authority approved. • The principle that no favour be shown to the Commission was fully, implemented and carried out in the new clause, he said.
Viscount Addison reiterated that the amendment was unacceptable and that the Government was not committed to it if it transgressed the principles which he did his best to uphold in the course of the discussion on the previous amendment.
On question, the amendment was agreed to.
Lord Balfour of Burleigh moved an amendment to provide every holder of railway stock convertible into B.T.C. stock, a 10-year annuity, in addition to the compensation provided in the Bill. This proposal was withdrawn after discussion.
TECHNICAL SUB-EDITOR REQUIRED THERE is a vacancy on the staff of
"The Commercial Motor" for a sub-editor with a sound theoretical and practical knowledge of commercial road transport, passenger and goods, and the chassis, bodies, etc., employed. He must be capable of conducting and accurately reporting road tests of all classes of vehicles,write general descriptions of chassis, components, etc.; prepare general articles in a simple, informative style, and sub-edit contributed matter.
Applicants should be under 35 and initst submit the fullest possible details addressed to the Editor and marked "Personal."
Darlington Corporation is to increase bus fares at the end of July.