Corporations Press for Higher Fares to Check Deficits: Present Scales Uneconomic
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THREE corporations which made heavy deficits A during their past year's operation are pressing to increase fares on their services. Causes for heavier costs of operation are said to be higher labour and maintenance charges.
The proposed increases for Bradford Corporation buses would produce an estimated surplus of £17,000 in
one full year's operation. This sum is insufficiently large to satisfy the transport manager, who would prefer to see fares raised higher than is proposed. Stockport Corporation, seeking to increase its revenue by £50,000, expects that this sdrn would balance its accounts, whilst Nottingham Corporation, which lost £82,301 last year, is to devise means to avoid such losses in the future.
A variety of ideas concerning bus fares and their collection. was made at the inquiry which the Yorkshire Licensing Authority, Major F. S. Eastwood, held in Bradford recently into Bradford Corporation's proposals for increases in fares, consequent upon heavy loss in operation.
From the opposition came• suggestions for the restoration of weekly contract tickets giving unlimited travel on the holder's route, issue of scholars' contract tickets, sale of packets of tickets in advance at a reducedprice. and issue of tickets at terminal points during rush hours. An investigation into the utility of "conscience boxes" for receipt of uncollected fares was also men toned.
Increased Operating Costs The town clerk, Mr. W. H. Leathern. who rectified that fares on the corporation's services were increased following similar applications made in June, 1947, said that the reason for the present applications was " the ever-increasing cost of labour and materials." The corporation sought to increase ordinary fares by id.. with the exception Of the minimum fare which would remain at Pd.; tO make consequential increases in workmen's fares; to abandon special concessions to schoolchildren; and to introduce fares on a uniform basis for children up to 15 years of age. The effect it was hoped. to achieve, if the applications were granted, was a surplus of just Over £17,000 in a full year. Without the proposed increases in fares it was anticipated that there would be an annual deficit of about £78,000.
Mr. C. R.Tattam, transport manager, said • that the estimated surplus of £17,000 from the proposed increases would still not be good enough to meet any unforeseen circumstance. He would have liked much higher increases.
Contract Tickets
When Mr. Tattam mentioned that other undertakings operating on corporation routes were willing to apply for fare increases on these routes. Major Eastwood asked if these other operators were making a loss. Not to my knowledge," replied Mr. Tattam.
Dealing with the suggestion by objectors that weekly contract ticket's be re-introduced on the corporation's
A28 services, Mr. Tattam said that this would weaken the financial position rather than improve it.
When Mrs. D. C. Edson, representative of a local women's union, suggested that the problem of uncollected fares could also be eased if tickets were sold at terminal points during rush hours, Major Eastwood commented that this would involve provision of labour, and he mentioned that "conscience boxes" for receipt of uncollected fares had been recently introduced at Newcastle.
Not Worth While
Mr. Tattam, remarking that the latter idea had Lately been the subject of a good deal of discussion in Bradford, said: "1 have contacted other: undertakings that have adopted the practice. and I was not surprised to learn that its disadvantages far outweigh the advantages."
At the close of the inquiry, the Licensing Authority, said that he would reach a decision on fares in a short time. As to tram and trolleybus fares. a report would have to be submitted to the Minister of Transport, whose decision would probably be announced within two months.
To bring an additional annual revenue of £50,000, Stockport Corporation is seeking to increase tram and bus fares. If the Ministry of Transport approves, it will be the first occasion for over 20 years that fares have been raised in the town.
It is proposed to increase all fares by Id., with a lid, minimum; impose a Id. minimum for children, with half adult
rates for additional stages; permit children holding travel vouchers journeying to and from school to travel a lid. or 2d. fare stage for id, and 2Id. or more adult-fare-rate for lid., and raise workmen's return tickets— double journey for single fare up to 9 a.m.—from a 2d. to 3d. minimum.
Alderman T. C. Hunt, chairman of the transport committee, states that the proposed increases will about balance the undertaking's working after taking into consideration the loan 'charges for 48 new buses, the alterations to garages and depots amounting to some £30,000, the loss of £14,000 on the past year's working. and wage increases.
Increase imperative
At a recent luncheon following the annual inspection of the Nottingham transport undertaking, Alderman G. W. Plackett, chairman of the passenger transport committee, pointed out that in the near future it would be necessary to devise means for increasing revenue.
The revenue had been as high as it ever was during the war. Whilst the undertaking had been able to pay off the loan charges, it had been unable to build up a reserve. The bulk of the profits had gone in income tax. As there had been a deficit last year, he had no hesitation in saying that there would also be one this year. It is understood that .the transport committee is to present a report to the city council which suggests a I id. minimum fare for adults and the abolition of the children's id. fare. ,The transport department's deficit during the financial year ended April 30 was £82,301.