Budget Upsets Fares: Hants Dorset Application Fails D URING hearings of
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applications for .1-/higher fares heard by the Licensing Authorities in the past week, it has been several times indicated that the Budget has changed the financial position of many operators. New applications for fares increases would therefore have to be made.
This was made clear, for example, when Midland General Omnibus Co., Ltd., Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Traction Co., Ltd., and Mansfield and District Traction Co., Ltd., applied to the East Midland Licensing Authority for higher charges. It was proposed to adi -id. to 30., 4id. and 6d. single tickets, Id. to those over 7d., Id. to return tickets from 6d.-9d. and 2d. thereafter. It was also suggested that workmen's tickets should be based on the new single rate plus a third.
Operators " Fortunate " When Mr. M. A. B. King-Hamilton, Q.C., was comparing the companies' present running costs with pre-war figures, the Licensing Authority interjected: "Since the end of the war the public has been able to travel to a greater extent and operators' vehicles have been used to capacity. They have been fortunate and I am sure they must appreciate it. We must not overlook the fact."
It was stated that a Parliamentary Bill was being promoted to enable Nottinghamshire and Derby Traction to convert from trolleybus to motorbus operation (see page 273). Decision was reserved.
The bearing of the application of Mexborough and Swinton Traction Co., Ltd., to add id. to all journeys up to five stages tong and Id. thereafter was adjourned until April 21.
For the operator, Sir Edwin Herbert, Q.C., showed how costs had risen from £39,044 a year in 1938 to £120,523 last year and would reach £128,885 this year. By 1952, running costs would be up by 133 per cent., and revenue by only 77 per cent. The concern would be some £16,000 short of its requirements this year if fares were not increased. The fare scales proposed would add £17,900 to the annual revenue.
Six Months to Wait An application by Hants and Dorset
• Motor Services, Ltd., to raise charges on certain routes was refused by the .South-Eastern Licensing Authority. The Authority declared that the applications should be made again after six months, during which time the company could examine the effect of the Budget on its operations. The application had been based on the increase of running costs since before the war.
The Western Licensing Authority has granted the application of Exeter Corporation and the Devon General Omnibus and Touring Co., Ltd., to advance single and workmen's return charges, and to abolish ordinary return tickets in Exeter.
The corporation case was based on A32 a requirement of £22,000 additional annual revenue to meet current running costs. The higher fuel cost resulting from the Budget added 135,000 a year to the running expenses of Devon General, it was stated.
New charges will be introduced in Dundee next Sunday, following the failure of the corporation's appeal against the Authority's refusal to grant certain fares modifications (see page 272). By refusing to implement those charges granted, the undertaking has lost £20,000 in revenue.
In the opinion of the transport committee, the 10-journey concession ticket proposed by the department would have been a useful source of revenue, whereas the 12-journey ticket granted would be useless, because of the five day week in local industry. The committee agreed that the limitation on the use of these tickets to one journey each way, Monday to Saturday, should be ignored.
Ten coach operators in .the Southeastern Traffic Area and 15 in the Yorkshire Area have applied for fares variations. In the West Midland Area, 25 operators of workmen's services to the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., Birmingham, are seeking higher charges.
In the South Wales Traffic Area, Messrs. W. L. Silcox and Son, Pembroke Dock, have proposed modifications affecting 18 services. These provide up to five miles for 2.2d. per mile and a sliding scale thereafter, so that from 20-25 miles the fare would be 1.7d. per mile.
Premier Travel, Ltd., Cambridge, has applied for permission to vary charges on 25 services. it is proposed to add id. to certain 71d. and all 3id., 4id. and 54d. single tickets and to base returns on If times the single charge.
The application of Morecambe and Heysham Corporation to augment charges has now been published. This provides for the addition of id. to some lid. tickets and to all others up to 21d., and of id. to fares over 3d.
The second hearing of Lincoln Corporation's application to raise fares is to take place on May 7. The earlier application was refused last January.