Higher Fares for Nine More Bus Operators
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I N the face of opposition by more than 40 bodies, including local authorities and trades unions, five bus companies in the Midlands were last week authorized by the East Midland Licensing Authority to increase fares.
They were the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., Midland General Omnibus Co., Ltd., Mansfield District Traction Co:, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Traction Co., and Barton Transport, Ltd.
Decisions on similar applications, made by East Midland Motor Services, Ltd., and the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., were deferred until the Authority had conferred with the Yorkshire and North Western Licensing Authorities Bristol Succeed Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., and their subsidiary, Bath Tramways Co., Ltd, -have been granted permission by the Western Licensing Authority to raise their charges on stage services. The higher rates will come into effect on Sunday.
Eight local authorities objected to proposals for higher fares made by five bus operators before the South Wales Licensing Authority in Swansea, on Monday. The operators were United Welsh Services, Ltd., .South Wales Transport Co:, Ltd., J. James and Sons, Ltd.. West Wales Motors and Messrs. James Bros., • Port Talbot.
Increases of id. on most single fares, and of Id. or 2d. on returns, were sought. Higher rates for weekly and season tickets were also proposed. United Welsh expected an extra £38,500 from the higher rates, • South Wales Transport, £55,000; and J. James and Sons, 15,200.
The hearing was proceeding when The Commercial Motor closed for press.
B.M.M.O. Grant • Fare increases estimated to yield an
extra £719,258 a year were, on Tuesday, granted to the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co.. Ltd.. by the West and East Midland Licensing Authorities. Mr. S. D. Herington, for the company, told the West Midland Authority last week that as a result of recent increases in costs, the company were losing at the rate of more than £780,000 a year on unremunerative services. If their proposals were allowed they would still be losing at the rate of more than 1600,000 a year on those services.
Under the proposals approved by the West Midland Authority, 3,600 workers' fares were abolished, leaving 3,400 in existence at higher rates.
The increases are expected• to be put into effect in the West Midland Area on February II and in the East Midland Area on March 2. 'there was no opposition to art application for higher fares granted to Leicester Corporation, last week, by the East Midland Licensing Authority. An extra 178,100 is expected to result from the increases.
Mr. R. E. Woodward, deputy town clerk, said it was nearly five years since Leicester last applied for higher rates. If it had not been for economies effected by the transport department, an earlier application would have been inevitable. In that period, the number of inspectors and maintenance staff had been reduced from 465 to 3:30, which was a 'solid achievement."
Mr. J. Cooper, general manager, said that although it was already " near the bone," the department proposed to make further economies, resulting in a saving of £4,500 a year, if the application were granted.
Lytham St. Annes Transport Committee arc proposing an 18,000 revision of fares, Workers' Fares to Go?
South Shields Transport Committee have re-submitted to the town council proposals for the abolition of workers' fares and for a rise of Id. in the minimum rate for schoolchildren. The council, in December, referred back the committee's recoMmendation in respect_ of the withdrawal of workmen's concession tickets.
Proposals designed to increase revenue by £151,375 a year were, last week, approved by Brighton Town Council.
Recommendations for higher fares are being made to their respective councils by the transport committees of Bury and Chesterfield.
Twenty-seven local authorities unanimously agreed last week to oppose the application for higher fares which is to be made to the Scottish Licensing Authority next week by the Scottish State NH group.
SCARABS FOR MALTA L'OUR Scammell Scarab 6-ton mechanical horses have been exported for use by the Maltese Milk Marketing Undertaking. The tractors will haul special low-loading hingedsided semi-trailers to collect milk in churns, and to deliver crated milk to a number of distribution points throughout Malta