Debt Free—On the Rates
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Major Eastwood on Bradford Transport
TrYorkshire Traffic Commissioners at week granted Bradford Corporation's application for increased fares. Major Frank Eastwood, the chairman, told the general manager of the transport undertaking, Mr. J. C. Wake: "When you have been in the chair a little longer I hope you will look at the fare stages. The 241. minimum fare seems to be reaping benefits and it has been a success in Leeds and Sheffield."
Short-distance 2d. and 3d. bus and trolley fares are to go up by Id. from Sunday.'
Mr. Wake, who took up his appointment in July, said he was under instruction to completely recast the whole of the Corporation's fare structure. He recognized that the Corporation would lose some passengers by the abolition of the 2d. fare.
The assistant city treasurer, Mr. W. J_ Baron, said the undertaking had incurred deficits for the last two financial years of £74,061 and £78.986, respectively.
When Mr. Baron said the undertaking was now debt free, Major Eastwood commented: "Debt free! But you are aided by the rates. Are there any municipal undertakings that run their transport in this way? You are the only one in the Yorkshire Traffic Area."
Mr. Baron said that in future renewals would be 'financed from revenue and, this would keep the level of fares as low as possible consistent with efficient and economic operation. He said the Corporation would be spending something like £200,000 a year out of revenue to meet the cost of new vehicles, etc. Increases in fares proposed wOuld bring in £126,000 a year in a full year.
HER 21st AS BUS DRIVER IVIISS WINIFRED MARY HA! LAM. IVI one of the country's few women bus drivers, has started her 21st year with Rotherham transport department.
She became a bus driver in 1941 and during the Second World War drove petrol buses, trolley buses and trams on the Sheffield route. With thc switch-over to double-deck vehicles, Miss Hallam was one of the first to pass the new test and has now driven well over half a million miles.