Ratepayers " Subsidize " Football
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WHEN, at Wakefield, last week, VV another operator submitted that Leeds Corporation was running special buses to Leeds United's Elland Road ground at a loss, Major F. S. Eastwood, Yorkshire Licensing Authority, said he did not see why the general ratepayers of Leeds should subsidize football or any other kind of sport.
Remarking that Coon. John Rafferty, chairman of Leeds Passenger Transport Committee, had indicated that the corporation would have to apply for an increase in the fares, he commented: " I think they would be wise to do so. This is a very costly operation, more costly than operating workpeopiespeak services, and I think it time Leeds CorporatiOn did something about it."
The corporation was opposing an application by J. B. Midgley and Sons, Ltd., for permission to run a Saturday football service from the centre of Leeds to a point near the Elland Road football ground. Mr. Tom Midgley. a director, said that his 'Company had previously run the service, but not regularly since before the war.
A32 Mr. K. H. Potts. for the corporation, submitted that Midgley's wished to "cash in" on the increased "gates" being experienced by Leeds United Football Club. Mr. Midgley replied that his company was out to provide a service to the public. It could not compete with the corporation because, with a 3d. fare, the municipal undertaking was running its service at a loss.
A municipal officer said that 48 private operators' vehicles were licensed to ply from the city centre to Elland Road before the war, but the provision of these services was most unreliable.
Announcing refusal of the applica-don, Major Eastwood said the applicant had ample opportunities to try to operate in 1937, 1938 and 1939, and, in fact, received a warning in 1939. The corporation undertaking had often had to hold the baby."