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Glasgow Fares May be Raised : Serious Financial Position

15th August 1952, Page 37
15th August 1952
Page 37
Page 37, 15th August 1952 — Glasgow Fares May be Raised : Serious Financial Position
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

HIGHER fares and the withdrawal of some motorbuses on non-paying routes are being considered because of the serious financial position of Glasgow Transport Department.

At a meeting of the transport committee, last week, it was estimated that (on the basis of the present fares) there would be a deficit of £425,000 in the next financial year, making the accumulated loss over £3m. The department's loss for the year ended May 31 was £325,886 and would have been £150,000 more if the corporation had. not decided recently to defer. for another year payment of the first annual instalment of the department's debt to the loan fund, which now amounts to over £2m. The estimated deficit for next year includes a loan repayment of £150,000.

Profit on TroIleybuses Only the trolleybus services showed a surplus (£6,214) on fast year's working. The trams lost £128,220 and the motorbuses £202,381. In the coming year, every section is expected to show a deficit—trams, £148,300, motorbuses, £251,700 and trolleybuses, £12,400.

Commenting on the expected further heavy loss, Cllr. R. McAllister, transport convenor, said that it arose from increases in the costs of fuel, materials and wages. As a first step, it was proposed that no more concession-fare vouchers for trams and trolleybuses should be sold after August 12.

It was probable that a special meeting of the committee would be called to consider the fares question, and it was difficult to see how an increase could be avoided.

Steps had already been taken to reduce the frequency of some of the services and to lower mileage. A saving of £130,000 had resulted from such measures in the past year, and a further reduction in tram mileage was contemplated.

Co-ordination Suggested air. McAllister thought that opportunity might be taken to consider some measure of co-ordination between the municipal services and those of Scottish Omnibuses. It was still to be decided whether abandoned tram routes were to be replaced by motorbus or trolleybus facilities.

If the department were run under private-company conditions, without superannuation, sick pay and excessive redemption charges, there would have been no operating deficit last year, but a surplus, said Mr. E. R. L. Fitzpayne, general manager, in reply to critics who contended that the city's transport could be run more efficiently and economically by private enterprise.

In his annual report, Mr. Fitzpayne said that it was essential to remember that, in general, conditions of service in private companies did not compare with those granted by municipal undertakings. Superannuation and sick-pay benefits were outstanding in that connection. During the period under review, the department paid to the superannuation fund £178,000, and made sickness allowances to employees totalling almost £47,000.

Commenting that 500 drivers and conductors had been dismissed during the year, Mr. Fitzpayne stated that it was obvious that the department was not attracting the same class of employee as before the war.

OLDHAM SALES AND EXPORTS UP

SALES in all departments of Oldham and Son, Ltd. in the year ended March 31, exceeded those of the previous 12 months and direct exports were greater than those for the previous year, notwithstanding the operations of

overseas subsidiaries, said Mr. John Oldham, 0.B.E., J.P., chairman, in his annual report.

An extraordinary general meeting of the company will be held on August 29 to consider resolutions that the capital be increased to £750,000 by the creation of 5m. additional ordinary shares of Is. each, and that £200,000 now standing in the general reserve be capitalized by making a bonus issue of 4m.

ordinary shares of Is. each. .

NEW DUPLE MAINTENANCE MANUAL

ACOMPREHENSIVE manual on coachwork maintenance has been published by Duple Motor Bodies, Ltd., The Hyde, London, N.W.9. It is likely to prove even more popular than a booklet on the same subject issued by the company some time ago, for it has a wider scope.

It is written in a style that can easily be • understood by a body fitter, and the text is liberally illustrated with explanatory diagrams. Information is given on the upkeep of equipment, such as winding windows and the electrical system, as well as on the maintenance of the main body frame.

The publication is entitled " Coach-. work Maintenance."

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