Workers' Fares to be Abolished Big Savings by Co-ordination
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WORKERS' fares on Portsmouth VY Corporation's buses will end as soon as the Minister of Transport has sanctioned decisions of the South Eastern Licensing Authority. Ordinary returns will be increased by 2d., and adult season tickets by 10%.
A similar application by Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., as well as a joint application by the two undertakings, was also sanctioned by the Authority.
Announcing this decision, the Authority, Mr. H. I. Thom, said: "I think it has not been the practice in this area in the past, but we have decided to announce the fact that we, the Licensing Authority, so far as jurisdiction extends to the buses, are prepared to grant the applications with the modification asked for in one case by the Southdown company.
More Revenue Needed "We consider additional revenue is required in the public interest to keep the services going. Secondly, we think the methods by which the two operators propose to obtain additional revenue are very reasonable.
"We are prepared to grant these applications, but we will await the decision of the Minister before giving sanction for implementation, which, I think, is in accordance with the wishes of the applicants."
The modification asked for by Southdown was that they would not put into force the increase in the return fare between Havant and Hayling Island until they were able to operate without the inconvenience to the public imposed by the weight limit on the toll bridge.
Criticizing the corporation's coordination agreement with Southdown, Lieut.-Cdr. G. Kingsford, who objected on behalf of a local ratepayers' association, said that it bore heavily upon the ratepayers. In 1951, the corporation undertaking showed a deficit of £56,000; in 1952, £50,522; and last year, £24,000. It was thought that some reorganization was long overdue.
Co-ordination Blamed Another ratepayers' spokesman, Mr. H. W. Haler, said that before co-ordination the corporation buses showed a profit, paid a good deal to the rates, and had sufficient in the reserve fund to buy a few buses. He was confident that it was through the co-ordination agreement that the request was now made for an increase in fares.
Interposing, Mr. Thom pointed out that the co-ordination scheme was embodied in an Act and could be terminated only by one of the parties giving notice. It did not come within the scope of the inquiry.
Mr. S. D. Herrington, for the corporation, said Mr. Hollier's facts were wrong. The corporation had made a great saving by reason of the co ordination scheme, which had the blessing of the Licensing Authority. There had been a saving of 24m. miles in the past six years.
The earlier part of the hearing of the application was reported in The Commercial Motor last week.