Eastern Counties Get Part Grant : Temporary Increases Confirmed
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A N application for higher fares opposed by 31 local councils was r-sonly partially granted to the Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd.. by the Eastern Traffic Commissioners, last week. The Devon General Omnibus and Touring Co., Ltd., and Nottingham Transport Department have been authorized to place on a permanent basis the temporary increases made as a result of fuel rationing.
Eastern Counties were authorized to raise workers' day returns from 11 to ft times the ordinary fare, but were refused permission to increase ordinary returns and season-ticket rates. Their bid to charge for I2-journey weekly tickets on the basis of 10 times the single fare was modified to 9 times the single fare.
In the Commissioners' reserved decision, the chairman, Mr. W. P. S. Ormond, referred to Eastern Counties as "this efficient company." He said it was not in the public interest to grant the application in full on the evidence submitted, and advised that any further increase should be sought by raising sub-standard fares to the existing mileage scale.
5.72 per cent. Return For the company, Mr. Maurice Holmes said the net income before tax gave a return on capital of 5.72 per cent. if the application were granted, the return for the full year would be 5.48 per cent. Mr. C. W. Bailey, secretary of the company, said that on present fares the return on capital for the next full year would be only 3.23 per cent.
Mr. Holmes added that on the present basis the increases in the company's costs in a full year would be £76,973. The application covered £69,600 of this sum.
For the local councils, Mr. M. R. Nicholas said the company were not in need of an increase. He argued that their estimates were wrong. If the present fares remained, their profits would be about £164,000 in a full year, and not £100.000 as had been estimated.
Devon General Unopposed There were no objectors to the Devon General application, heard by the Western Traffic Commissioners at Bristol last week.
Mr. F. A. Stockdale, for the cornpany, said that increases granted last March were estimated to provide £116,000 profit for the year. But the result was disappointing, and the trading profit for last year was only about £86,000.
The company had framed the application before the Suez crisis. It was calculated that it would yield £70,000. But they had used the emergency powers to put the higher fares into effect.
" Mr. Stockdale said that if the application were granted the company were willing to undertake that, provided the situation remained unchanged, with traffic at its present level, and so long as
132, the Suez crisis was not prolonged throughout the summer, they would not resort to the emergency powers.
He pointed out that they were a -.highly seasonal" company.
A 6-per-cent. rise in traffic, representing an additional revenue of £2,000 a week, had resulted from fuel rationing in Nottingham, the East Midland Traffic. Commissioners were told last week, when Nottingham Transport Department applied for increases.
Because of this, the chairman, Mr. A. G. Curtis, suggested that the application might be "premature."
Later, he said the Commissioners agreed with the corporation that with this extra revenue, only "a comparatively small reserve might he expected at the end of March. 1958."
Pontypridd Succeeds Pontypridd Transport Department was last week granted permission to introduce higher fares when the temporary fare increase was withdrawn. In the nine months ended in December, the undertaking had a net surplus of only £169. Another application is to be made later for fare increases on services run jointly with other operators.
The temporary +(I. increase on all 2d single fares on services run in Gloucester by Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., ended on Sunday.
The Northern Traffic Commissioners have granted a reprieve for workers' fares in Stockton and on some Middlesbrough municipal bus services. In the deferred decision on their proposal to abolish the workers' fares (The Commercial Motor, February 1), the Commissioners stated that they expected any future fare applications to embody proposals to abolish or reduce the concessions.
HIGHER FARES AGREED
GREEMENT about an increase in 1-1 fares on the route between West Hartlepool and Hartlepool has been reached by the corporations of both towns. West Hartlepool has agreed to Hartlepool's suggestion that twoand four-journey tickets should be raised by id. and 2d. respectively. Hartlepool has assented to West Hartlepool's proposal that the 2W. fare should be raised to 3d.
NEW " BEN " PRESIDENT
ON Tuesday the Duke of Richmond and Gordon was elected president of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund in succession to Lord Hives,
MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES Ryde Town Council are to acquire a tipper. Twickenham Borough Council ate to buy a tipper.
Eating Works Committee recommend that as S.D. vehicle he obtained.
Lancashire School Meal's Sub-committee seek to obtain 20 new vehicles,
Manchester City Council are to purchase an A.E.C,-Merryweather fire appliance.
Brighton Entertainments Committee approve the purchase of a Thames 5-cwt. van.
Croydon Transport Committee recommend that two Thames 5-cwt. vans be acquired.
Italesoweri Town Council are recommended to acquire a van from Messrs. A. Hadlington and
SonsMsinaffeln Highways Committee wish to obtain a Thames 3-tonner from James Windsor and Son, Ltd.
Northumberland County Council seek to buy three 5-6-tonners, two 3-4-conners and three vans, Cardiff Transport Committee advise that 12 Guy Arab 6501e-deckers with East Lancashire bodies be acquired.
Bradford City Council arc advised to obtain seven Kanter Dual-Tip refuse collectors from the Thornton Engineering Co., Ltd.
Oxford Watch Committee recommend that Carmichael and Sons (Worcester), Ltd., supply a Karrier Gamecock B-type water tender.
Portsmouth Watch Committee propose to acquire a Bedford water tender with Hampshire Car Bodies bodywork from United Service Garages. Ltd.