Bleak prospect for Hull transport
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• Members of Hull's transport committee at their meeting on Friday (January 24) discussed the finances of the undertaking which foreshadows a loss next year of £298,650, equal to an 8d rate.
The deputy city treasurer Mr. F. de Boer, presenting the estimates, said it was now expected that the probable deficit for the present year would be £227,340 although originally it was expected to be £108,085. Income was £99,000 less than expected and working expenses were £32,000. A contributory factor to the latter was a £1 back-dated pay award when the original estimates provided for only lOs a week. He said the deficit for last year of £175,919 would now be met out of the general rate fund. He said for next year, ending March 1970, it was estimated there would be a further reduction of income of £25,000 and expenses would increase by a further £20,000.
The transport manager, Mr. W. K. Haigh, said the undertaking carried 100m passengers a year in 1957 but in recent years they had lost 2 to 3m passengers a year and now they carried 51m passengers, almost half the 1957 figure. He said oneman-operated buses were estimated to be capable of saving £1,000 per bus per year and if they turned over completely to single manning the saving would be £220,000 in a year. He went on: "We are still in negotiation with the union on this point. There is a lot of information which cannot be disclosed."
ClIr. J. Townend, in accepting Mr. Haigh's suggestion for the operation of oneman buses, said if they went over to them completely they would save two-thirds of the expected deficit next year. He added: "The manager says that that can be saved by the operation of one-man buses. This deficit then is due to management and trade unions. It is up to them to get this job solved for the benefit of ratepayers. It is not the fault of the general public. Management and trade unions should get together and get agreement."
Aid. W. E. Body said that eventually they might have to consider providing free transport within the borough which would do away with the collection of fares and they would save thousands of pounds in administration.
The estimates now go to the finance committee for approval.