News of Municipal Activities
Page 41
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How Newport's Buses Fared.
During the year ended March 31, 1932, the buses of Newport Corporation were operated at a gross profit of £8,604, the total income having amounted to £66,271 and working expenses to £57,667. Against this sum interest on loans (£2,552) and sinkingfund charges (±7,712) have to be set, so that there was a deficiency of £1,660, which, added to a contribution in respect of the supersession of the tramway track along Malpas Road, gives a total deficiency of £4,115.
The passengers carried during the year totalled 8,332,072,and the busmiles run 1,270,850, both these figures being materially higher than the comparable returns for the previous Year. During . the year the corporation operated 44 buses of .Leyland and Karrier makes, and they serve a route. mileage of approximately 31.
Hull Not to Seek Trolley-bus Powers. The transport committee of Hull Corporation has decided that no further action be taken with regard to the inclusion in the Corporation Bill of a clause prohibiting vehicles and cycles from passing stationary tramears on the near side, at authorized stopping places.
The Parliamentary and general purposes committee has been asked to seek in the Bill, power to operate contract carriages in the city and between the city and corporation institutions, and the extension of the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, in its application to the city, to include payment for goodwill.
No further action is to be taken with regard to obtaining power to operate trolley-buses.
Reading Bus Returns.
The annual report of the tramways and motors department of Reading Corporation shows that, in the year ended March 31, 1932, the municipal buses 'were operated at a net loss of £2,556, as compared with a net loss of £2,659 a year earlier. 'The revenue account shows that the total bus income was £59,299, whereas working expenses total £18,692, these figures, on a per bus-mile basis, being 13.26d. and 10.881 The aggregate mileage run by the buses during the year under review was 1,072,090, the passengers carried num bering 6,868,873. On an average, 6.4 Passengers were carried per bus-mile, the average fare paid pee passenger amounting to 2.05d. Guy, Leyland and Karrier buses figure in the Reading municipal fleet.
Mr. M. Calder, A.M.I.E.E., AM.I.Mech.E. the general manager and engineer of the undertaking, in commenting on the past year's working and the detail work involved under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, emphasizes the fact that, generally speaking, the whole atmosphere of bus operation has undergone a complete change.
• Ministry Suggests that Passengers • Should Walk.
. Bedwellty Urban District Council, one of the constituent authorities of the West Mon. joint Omnibus Board, has been endeavouring to obtain from the Ministry of Transport a grant to proceed with the reconstruction of Abertysswg Bridge, over which the Board's buses have to pass.
The Ministry's reply is to the effect that a grant cannot be given for the work and that the advisability of stopping the buses at each end of the bridge and insisting on passengers walking over it should be weighed by the council.
The local authority is to ask the Ministry to receive a deputation to discuss the point.
Blackpool Bus Finance.
During the year ended March 31, 1932, there was a net loss of 18,933 on the working of the buses of Blackpool Corporation. The gross profit was £5,539—more than double that of the previous year. Smart Ambulances for Walthamstow.
The accompanying illustration shows to advantage one of two Austin Twenty ambulances supplied by Tankard and Smith. Ltd., 226-232, High Road, Tottenham, London, N.15, to Waltham stow Borough Council. The vehicles incorporate the standard Austin ambulance chassis having offset drive, and have special bodies built by the North London Engineering Co., Ltd., Willesden, London, NAVA°.
With 7.00-in. by 18-in. tyres, a floor height of 2 ft. 2 ins. is obtained,, the folding rear step being 14 ins, from the ground. Racks for two stretchers are located on the left side, the upper ems being arranged to fold against the body side. These racks are, respectively, 1 ft.
2 ins. and 3 ft. 2 ins, above floor level. Opposite them is a longitudinal Rexinecovered seat for six persons.
Thermorad interior heating is provided, with two grilles in the floor, whilst there are two Airvae ventilators in the roof. On each side are two large windows, two more being incorporated la the rear doors, and all have Lancegaye blue, unsplinterable purdah glass. The maximum headroom to the roof sticks is 5 ft. 4 ins.
More Buses for Birkenhead?
It is proposed that Birkenhead Corporation should purchase 10 new double-deck buses, the estimated cost being £17,650, and that £11,000 of this sum should be borne out of revenue and that the Ministry of Transport be asked to sanction the borrowing of the remaining £6,650.