E.Y.M.S. Seek £46,875 Fare Rise and say : "We Shall Be Back"
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APPLYING for fare increases which would bring in an extra £46,875 a year, East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., intimated at Bridlington, last week, that in the near future they would again be appearing before the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, this time seeking to cover the £30,000 annual expenditure caused by the recent pay award to bus crews.
Mr. F. A. Stockdale, for the company, said they were making their present application because, in common with many other operators, they were suffering from a decline in stage carriage earnings. Unless checked, this would result in the company being unable to offer the public the services now available.
Stage , carriage revenue in the past year was £66,148 below expectations, yet when rolling stock was being replaced the company had to buy the best that was offered. Stage passengers were being lost every year, and it was hoped that if the fleet were modernized it might help to stem the tide.
The value of the fleet on December 30, 1957, was £1,049,680, compared with 1454,155 in 1947. This improvement was a result of spending £595,525 on new vehicles during those 10 years.
More Buses Wanted Mr. C. R. Wreathall, general manager, said E.Y.M.S. planned to buy 20 new buses in 1960 to replace obsolete ones which had been in service since 1947. It was essential to have efficient rolling stock now that the railways were putting diesel trains into operation.
In the near future an application would have to be made to cover the pay award, which would cost £30,000 in a full year.
Nine local authorities objected to the proposed increases in single and return fares. Mr. K. Henderson, clerk to Filey Urban District Council, pointed out that air travel worked out at 2.75d. per mile,' against the 1.5d. per mile of bus travel. He hoped it would never become cheaper to travel by air:
Mr. E, Bailey, town clerk of Beverley. said figures proved that the more fares went up. the lower was the revenue received. An objector from Flamborough, -Mrs. J. A. Cooper, suggested that one-man operation might be the answer to the company's problems.
The Commissioners reserved their decision.
CONFIDENT OF MORE EXPORTS'
EXECUTIVES of General Motors from 12 countries attended an export sales conference at the Luton works of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., last week. A major part of their discussions concerned overseas sales of Bedford vehicles— already the world's best-selling trucks In 13 countries.
They were shown a comprehensive range of current models, including a wide selection of special-purpose bodywork on various Bedford chassis. Afterwards the company stated that they were confident that 1959 exports would be even higher.