Higher Fares and Service Cuts ?
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I N a dual application heard before the Yorkshire Licensing Authority at Hull last week, Hull Transport Department applied for permission to increase certain fares and to withdraw one service and modify another. It was stated that the undertaking's estimated deficit for the 1953-54 year was £81,652.
Mr. H. H. Campbell, for the applicants, said the proposals comprised the abolition of fractionat and workmen's single fares, a 2d. minimum, and a 3d. minimum for Sunday morning and services after 11 p.m.
He said that in the year ended March, 1953, nearly 50 undertakings had shown a deficiency of more than £1m., and 90 had accumulated deficiencies of more than £4-1m. About 70 would now have to seek higher fares, and Hull was asking for the minimum. Unless fares were increased, there would be an accumulated deficit of £117,8S7 by March 31, 1955. A recent wage award would raise that to hearly £140,000. Mr. G. H. Pulfrey, general manager,. said that revenue for the current year was expected to be less. In spite of rigid economy, expenditure had greatly increased and the reserve fund was exhausted.
Regarding the application to modify services, Mr. Campbell said that a similar application was rejected in 1947, when the deficiency on the motorbuses was only £538 and the surplus on trolleybuses was £24,383. Conditions were different now. Economies already effected had reduced mileage by 46,000, and it was expected that another 86,000 miles would be saved this year.
Commenting on the £26,300 estimate for free travel, the Authority, Maj. F. S. Eastwood, said he took a " dim view" of it. He considered that the corporation departments concerned should pay for the cost of free travel for old-age pensioners and the blind. There was no reason why the transport committee should be subsidizing other departments.