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Axe for rural bus routes
Page 61
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rE failure of the Government to relieve ile bus industry "from the penal rate of fuel tax" could mean the axing of a number of rural bus services in the Aldershot district. This warning was given in Aldershot last week by Mr. F. K. Pointon, chairman of Aldershot and District Traction Co. Ltd.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the company, he said there had been an "unrelenting search" for economies in operation and that there had been only one application to increase fares in the past four years.
Mr. Pointon added, however, that "the field for such economies is a rapidly narrowing one and that such gleaning as can be done will not sustain fare levels against further major increases in cost". Such searching, which would be done with no less diligence than before would not help the company to continue the unremunerative rural services that were operated.
The chairman pointed out that fuel tax was currently at the rate of 400 per cent on its basic cost and that in the company's last financial year it had meant paying the Government £123,000.
Mr. Callaghan had taken his place in a long line of Chancellors of the Exchequer who had done nothing "to relieve the industry of its load of taxation; he has actually gone to the head of it—having dealt the bus industry some of the heaviest blows yet", said Mr. Pointon.
The payroll tax, he said, meant that the company provided the Government with "an interest-free loan of no less than £16,000". He warned that it would also increase administrative costs.