Manchester Fares Rise Approved
Page 58
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AN application for increases in fares for stage-carriage and trolley bus services was granted to Manchester Corporation by the North Western Traffic Commissioners in Manchester last Friday.
The increases, expected to start Operating on October 24, will range from Id. to id. on ordinary fares; there will be proportionate increases in children's concessionary fares during holiday periods, Cheap all-day tickets will be . increased from 2s. to 2s. 3d. and children will pay 2d. more.
Mr. C. A. Marsh, deputy town clerk, applying for the increases, said the main reasons for them were a shorter working week, increased expenditure mainly due to national wage awards, and a recession in passenger traffic.
Wage Increases Since the last application in December, 1957, there had been 26 national wage awards and these had increased expenditure by more than £600,000 a year. The recession in traffic was a common trend affecting transport undertakings throughout the country. It was brought about by the increased use of private transport and the increased immobility which television imposed on a lot of people.
Municipal undertakings had been losing traffic for several years at an average rate of. 2.15 per cent, a year. During the seven-year period ending December, 1958, Manchester, had lost 1.6 per cent, a year,. but it had since risen to more than 2 per cent.—representing a loss in revenue of £100,000 a year.
, Mileage Cuts
They had made a surplus, by economy on mileage, of £140,000 last year, but the last and biggest wage award would cost them £360,000 during the present year and £400,000 in a full year. If the increases in fares were not granted. the department would be faced with a deficit of £1.127,000 in the next three years.
Granting the application, the Commissioners' chairman, Mr. F. Williamson, said the last wage increase was, in effect, the one that broke the camel's back, not only for Manchester but for other transport undertakings in the country. He said the Corporation had not been overambitious in their proposals.
DOING-IT-YOURSELF?
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