P.M.T. Puts the Case for All Bus Operators
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THE first bus company to point out
to a Licensing Authority the effect of increased wages and higher prices for oil and tyres was the Potteries Motor Traction, Ltd. Applying for higher fares, the concern last week informed the West Midland Licensing Authority that the lowest possible sum required to close the existing gap between revenue and expenses was £158,000. Unless this was forthcoming the company would have to make another application very soon.
Pay increases would cost the company £42,000 a year, it was stated. In addition, 101 out of 121 services were unremunerative. Proposals put before the Licensing Authority were intended to remove anomalies in the fares schedules, to raise the id. fare by id., and to abolish ordinary return tickets below is. 3d. Other returns were to be increased by varying amounts, and concession rates restricted to the period before 8 a.m.
Mileage to be Reduced?
Mileage reduction is to be employed by West Bridgford Transport Department in order to stave off the effect of higher running costs. An application to cut weekly mileage run in conjunction with Nottingham Transport Department from 20,000 to 17,500 is to be lodged with the East Midland Authority.
The cost of the new wage awards and tyre prices to Nottingham Transport Department would be about 00,000 a year.
Commenting on the new tyre prices. Mr. G, W. Hayter, general manager of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., stated last week that another 0.2d. per mile would thus be added to the company's operating costs, equal to' another £20,000 a year. Twenty services are affected by applications to raise fares lodged by Northern General and by United Automobile Services, Ltd. Some are joint services.
Red and White Applies Rates on all services operated by Red and White Services, Ltd., Ralph's Garages, Ltd., and the Griffin Motor Co.. Ltd., are the subject of an application before the South Wales Licensing Authority. Another concern in the group, Newbury and District Motor Services, Ltd., has now been granted a general revision of fares, and United Welsh Services, Ltd., was granted variations last month.
Thames Valley Traction Co., Ltd., has been granted changes in children's rates, anomalies having arisen as a result of the higher rates introduced last year.
Four State-controlled concerns, including the Western and Southern National Omnibus companies have been refused the " blanket " increases sought last September. In the case of two of the companies, Hants and Dorset Motor Services Ltd., and Wilts and
Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., the appli
cation concerned backings. Applications lodged by these two companies in the South-eastern area were permitted with modifications.
In this case, however, the Western Licensing Authority, Sir Arnold Musto, has granted amended fares, whilst refusing the original application. Single tickets between Id. and 6d. will cost id. more. From 6d. to Is. the increase is Id., whilst fares in the is.-2s. and 2s.-3s. ranges go up by 2d. and 3d. respectively. The original applications called for larger increases and sought to abolish odd id. units.
Joint services operated by Plymouth Corporation and Western National are affected by the decision, which grants higher fares, on a scale lower than that requested. Plymouth Corporation states that advanced pay rates will cost £24,000 a year, whilst fares increases will bring in another £16,000.
Birkenhead Corporation has now been granted permission to bring certain of its fares into line with those charged by Crosville Motor Service, Ltd., in the same area. Five routes are affected. Warrington Corporation, describing the revenue position as serious, states that higher pay rates will cost another £9,500 a year.
Other North-Western Area operators to whom some higher fares have been granted include Wigan, Bolton, Oldham, Ramsbottom and Salford Corporations, Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., and Ribble Motor Services, Ltd.
Majestic Express Motors, Ltd., Stockport, may now charge another 7 1/7 per cent, on fares on the ManchesterLondon route.
The Western Authority has announced that applications for increases on London services would be accepted.
An application for a general revision of fares has been lodged by Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., to meet continually rising costs. Previously, isolated services have been subjected to slight increases. City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd., has also been granted further small revisions.
SCOTI1SH WORKERS' FARES UP 100 PER CENT.
CONTENDING that there have been
increases of 100 per cent. in workers' fares, Lanarkshire Members of Parliament and the Joint Trades and Labour Council are to protest against recent changes in Scottish bus fares. A conference is to be held on January 28, and a protest is to be sent to the general council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.