Workers' Fares to be Abolished
Page 48
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NTOTICE is to be served by the chairman of the Northern Traffic Commissioners, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, on Stockton-on-Tees Transport Department to end its cheap fares for workers. He stated that contract tickets, which cost the undertaking £1,000 a year, would end on December 31. A public inquiry will be held.
Mr. Hanlon made this announcement when he authorized the undertaking to revise fares. About £18,000 a year is expected to be realized under the revision, which will have the effect of increasing the charges for 317 fare stages, reducing 48 and leaving 450 unaltered.
Certain multi-journey tickets arc to be abolished, and children's fares paid by the education authority are to be raised.
Darlington Transport Department has had a proposal to reintroduce transfer tickets rejected by the Northern Commissioners.
Mr. Hanlon said the undertaking's finances were not sound enough to allow the use of transfer tickets, and that it would not be in the public interest to approve them.
The North Western Traffic Commissioners last week authorized Lancaster Transport Department to abolish workers' return fares. It was stated that recent deficits had been met from the city's rates.
B14 Although the application was expected to bring in £2,700 in a full year, there would still be a substantial deficit to he met from the rates at the end of the current year.
The West Midland Traffic Commissioners last week authorized Messrs. Kendrick's, Dudley, to raise fares on their services to Sedgley and Lower Gornal. Mr. J, Else, for the applicants, said the weekly fare would be increased by 6d. to 6s. 6d. on all services except Lower Gornal, where the new fare would be 7s. 6d.
Decision on the application of Blackheath Coaches (Birmingham), Ltd., for higher fares on their services from Brierley Hill and Stourbridge to the Woodgate factory of Birmetals, Ltd., was reserved for a possible adjustment in the proposed increases. It was stated that the company had a loss in the past financial year, and an even greater deficit was expected during the current year. If their application were granted an extra £1,400 was expected to be realized.
A spokesman for the employees of Birmetals said that some of the increases on the Brierley Hill journey were as much as 9d. a day. If that were approved, it might cause a new wage claim by them.
The chairman commented that the applicants obviously needed extra revenue.