L West Riding takeover 'inevitable'
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TAKEOVER of the West Riding Automobile Co. Ltd. was inevitable in one form or another, in the opinion of the board, chairman and managing director Ald. Harry Watson told shareholders at three Wakefield meetings last Friday.
Ald. Watson said that this was the reason why they were recommending the acceptance of the flm offer for the shares from the Transport Holding Company.
Those who had read Mrs. Castle's speech at Scarborough, would realize it was her intention to "nationalize" all forms of public transport although she had preferred to use the word "municipalize", said Ald. Watson. He could not see any difference and the result would be the same, with PTAs taking the "cream off the milk" of paying company routes.
If this happened in the Leeds area, the board of West Riding might have to insist that the appropriate PTA took over the whole of the company, on what compensation terms the directors knew not.
Last year the firm carried 100m passengers on its 539 miles of route. Its 400-vehicle fleet operated 16-1-in miles.
Acceptance of the offer means automatic loss of office for Ald. Watson, under an age rule, and also for three other directors of the company.