Public Respond to Plain Facts
Page 28
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
GOOD public relations did much to obviate apprehension and misunderstanding about fare increases among passengers and local authorities, said the chairman, Mr. R. P. Beddow, presiding at the annual meeting of Ribble Motor Services. Ltd., at Preston, last week. The total of 209im. passcngers carried during the year represented a reduction of 3m., or a little less than 1 per cent., compared with the previous year's figure.
A full explanation of the needs of the company to obtain extra revenue was made to local authorities and others.
Express and stage services had been developed. A new express service was being planned to link Liverpool with Bristol and the south in winter as well as in summer. This would form an extension of the "Westlinks " system of express services covering the west side of Britain. In order that passengers would no longer have to change from one vehicle to another at busy centres, many local services had been reorganized and through working extended.
HIGHLAND BUS COMPANY'S BIG LOSS
GIV1NG evidence before the Scottish Licensing Authority at Golspie, last week, Mr. D. Taylor, assistant agent to the Duke of Westminster in North-West Sutherland, stated that before the Duke's interests took over the Sutherland Transport and Trading Co. at Lairg two years ago, the concern were operating at "a terrific loss." They were willing to stand a loss in the interests of developing the Highlands, but not one of that size. Expenditure, which was excessive in relation to the number of people using the services, had been cut. The company were opposing an application by Kenneth Matheson, of Raffin, near Lochinver, for a licence to operate a bus from Lochinver to Invershin to replace one taken off by the Sutherland Transport and Trading Co. Rather than increase fares, possibly by 100 per cent., the company preferred to provide services just sufficient to meet the public need.
Decision was reserved until July 20.
F.B.I. WANT BETTER ROADS
IN a memorandum sent to the Chan' cellor of the Exchequer calling urgently for the development of trunk roads, the Federation of British Industries say that the country's productivity is suffering because its roads are inadequate. Delays and high costs in carrying goods by road affect Britain's ability to compete with other producers, Find waste manpower. The number of motor vehicles has, says the report, increased by 55 per cent since 1939. In the same period the annual expenditure on roads has risen from £64m. to £80m. These figures
B2
indicated a steady decrease in the amount of work actually carried out, as costs had increased two or three times. Endorsing the action of the F.B.I., the British Road Federation, in a statement issued last Saturday, said that it was an encouraging move "to end the colossal waste of time, motor fuel and human lives on our present out-of-date roads." Pointing out that after the Harrow railway disaster, the British Transport Commission were being urged to spend £17m. on making 5,320 miles of railway safer, the B.R.F. statement says: "More people are .killed on our inadequate roads every 10 days than died at Harrow, Yet only £3.25m. is being spent on the country's road blackspots."
150 TESTS OF PARTS TO CUT COSTS
NEARLY 150 tests are being conducted by Birmingham Transport Department on vehicle components, ranging from oil seals to complete lightweight structures, with the object of improving fuel consumption.
As part of a drive to reduce expenditure, more economic maintenance
procedures are being devised, and experiments are being made with various materials to obtain better value for money. Improved braking and tyre life are being sought.