Bus Depreciation Too High ? D EPREC1ATION of over 12,000 a
Page 39
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
year for five passenger vehicles, used on miners' services., in the Wrexham area, was out of proportion to their value, and expenses generally were too high, the North Western Traffic Commissioners were told at Llandudno last Friday. North Wales Area of the National Coal Board objected to an application for fare increases on six c011iery services by Messrs. T. and H. R. Roberts, Cern, near Wrexham.
Mr, Roberts told the Commissioners that he received £200 weekly plus L16 Ifis. for fuel tax from the Board for six services to Ifton, Llay Main and Hafod collieries, involving the use of five vehicles and a weekly mileage of 2,328. Receipts were just under 21d. per mile and expenses amounted to 22.65d. per mile.
The last rise was in January, 1955, and he was now asking for increases ranging from Id. to 4d. on day return fares, and 4d. to 2s, on weekly returns, which would increase the payment to £233 18s. weekly.
It was in the Board's interest that there should be an efficient service, said Mr. T. I. Mather, but they considered that the applicants' figures of operating cost, taking their business as a whole, which involved haulage, private parties and school services, was overcharged to the colliery services.
In particular, the Board held that depreciation of £40 per week for five used vehicles was too high. They would be completely written off -every three to four years.
Mr. F. Williamson, chairman, said they would examine the evidence, particularly the operating costs,and tix a figure for each service. By agreement with the N.C.B., the guaranteed rates would, in future, be shown on all colliery licences.
FINED FOR HAULAGE UNDER. C LICENCE A FTER pleading guilty to nine Pi charges of carrying for. payment under C licence, N. Kindon arid Sons, Ltd., Burn Road, West Hartlepool, last week paid a total of £54 15s. in fines and costs before West Hartlepool magistrates.
Prosecuting for the Northern Licensing Authority, Mr. J. L. R. Croft said that steel had been carried for the South Durham Steel and Iron Co., West Hartlepool, to Newcastle upon Tyne. Washington and Middlesbrough. He alleged that an attempt had been made to persuade the steel company to tell an official that payment had not been made.
For the defence it was stated that invoices had been sent to the steel cornpany by female staff who did not appreciate the licensing position. The steel could have been delivered by Aar B-licensed vehicles.