East Kent Refused Higher Fares
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AN application by the East Kent 4-1. Road Car Co., Ltd., for a general increase of fares from id. to Id. on single fares bp to is. and by Id..and 2d. on return fares up to Is. 7d., was refused by the South Eastern Licensikig Authority, last week.
The expected increased revenue, had the application been granted, was £40,000, which, it was submitted, was necessary to keep the company operating in the public interest.
It was stated that there had been a progressive decline o'er the past few years in the number of passengers carried.
The application was opposed by Kent County Council and by 22 local authorities of East Kent, for whom Mr. Harold Willis, Q.C., claimed that the company Was of sufficient strength to overcome the effect of one bad year anA could take the loss of £40,000 in its stride.
Announcing his decision, the Authority, Mr. H. J. Thom, said it was believed that the financial position of companies could best be judged by the amount of their liquid assets.
The Authority should, and must, legitimately take into account the liquid assets of the company when deciding whether additional revenue is required," he said. "The liquid assets are such as to make the additional revenue unnecessary at the present time."
Mr. Thom expressed appreciation of the company's attempt to rationalize their fare structure and on the substantial economies made in the public interest.
DOORS TO. BE COMPULSORY?
APROPOSAL that all public service vehicles should be equipped with vacuurn-operated doors under the control of the driver will be discussed at a road safety forum during the 1954 National Safety Congress at Central Hall, Westminster, London, S.W.1, from November 2-4.
The forum, which will be under the chairmanship of Sir John Elliot, chairman of the London Transport Executive, will be held during the morning of November 3. NEW BITS SERVICE PLAN FOR MIDHIURST
AS a result of the resignations of Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Williams from the boards of the Hants and Sussex group of bus companies, they have been left with some unremunerative stage services in the Midhurst area licensed to Mr. Williams.
Earlier in the year, Mr. C. S. Dunbar was called in by Mr. Williams to advise on these and other services of the group, and he prepared a reorganization scheme for the Midhurst area which was to have been dealt with by the South Eastern Licensing Authority on September 10.
This scheme was based on linking up the services for maintenance and control with those of the Liss and District Omnibus Co., but when Mr. Williams lost control of the latter, the scheme became impracticable.
Despite the serious financial position of these services, Mr. and Mrs. Williams are anxious not to leave the area without stage services, and have, therefore, prepared a modified scheme which will shortly be considered by the Authority. In the meantime, the services are being carried on as before from dormy sheds at Midhurst and Graffham.
RAILWAYS SLOW: GOODS CO BY ROAD
AN outstanding grievance against the railways by consignors was uncertainty over transit times and, for thi3 reason. many had turned to road tra isport, the Eastern Regional Board for Industry were told at Cambridge, last week. Replies to a questionnaire on railway goods services were being considered. Evidence about the uncertainty of times was supported by a report from the eastern regional council of the Federation of British Industries.
A member of the Watford district committee of the Board analysed 300 consignments and stated that 6 per cent, were in transit for two days, 14 per. cent, for three days, 35 per cent. for four to six days, and the remaining 45 per cent. for seven to 20 days.