£108,000 Too Much for Resistance ?
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THE Minister of Transport has suggested that the Western Traffic Commissioners should later reconsider an allowance. of £108,000 for "passenger resistance" included in an application for increased fares granted to Bristol Omnibus Co., Ltd., Bath Electric Tramways, Ltd., and Bath Tramways Motor Co., Ltd. He has dismissed an appeal by Bath City Council against the increases.
The sum was intended to cover all the factors which the companies thought likely adversely to affect their revenue in the immediate future, including resistance to the increases and a general decline in traffic.
In his decision released on Wednesday, the Minister said that there must be some doubt whether the estimate would prove to be reasonably accurate. It was not established that the figure was too high, but there was sufficient doubt for the Commissioners to consider whether they should review the arrangement when sufficient experience of it had been gained.
Commenting on the introduction of additional evidence in appeals, the report said that a submission was usually made in advance to the inspector, with copies to the other parties concerned, and the practice appeared to be desirable. Additional evidence was not normally admitted, but the inspector could permit it if he thought it desirable. The Minister excluded from his consideration of an appeal any evidence which was not admitted.
DAMAGES FOR FITTER'S WIDOW
A GREED damages of £2,295 are to be rls paid to the widow of a Wolverhampton Transport Department litter who was killed when he cranked the engine of a bus which had been left in gear. He was a member of a breakdown gang called out to the vehicle, and was crushed to death as it moved forward.
The widow sued Wolverhampton Corporation and the gang foreman. At Birmingham Assizes last week Mr. Justice Pileber approved the amount of damages, and the woman, Mrs. Esther Pickett, also received £150 towards her costs.
• HUNGARY TO SUPPLY CEYLON
THE Ikarus Vehicle Winks, of Buda' pest, have received a contract for the supply of 11 specially insulated coaches for Ceylon. The designers have paid special attention to the effects of rainfall and weather variations to ensure an even temperature in the coaches.
SHORTER ROUTE FOR HEAVIES
ANEW swing bridge over the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Canal at Keadby Lock, near Scunthorpe, opened last week, offers a shorter route for heavy traffic from North-west Lincolnshire to South Yorkshire.