CHAIRMEN of two B.E.T. bus corn
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panics and of the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., pointed out the serious effects of Budget increases in fuel duty at their annual general meetings, last week. Mr. R. P. Beddow, chairman of Maidstone and District Motor Services; Ltd., said that unless the company could obtain higher revenue, there would have to be drastic curtail." ments of facilities, whilst Mr. J. S. Wills, chairman of the Western Welsh Omni-. bus Co., Ltd., declared: " It seems absurd, in view of the obvious and urgent need to avoid further increases in the cost of living, that bus travel, one of the necessities of life for the great majority of the population, should be subject to such enormous special taxation." . He added that Western Welsh would have to seek to increase fares again.
Mr. Beddow also remarked upon proposals to modify the licensing system. "This is a matter which should be approached with the greatest caution." he said, " as the present system has stood the test of time and has worked with great efficiency over a substantial period of years."
He stated that Maidstone and District carried 3m. fewer passengers in the year under review than in the previous 12 months, whilst Mr. Wills reported that Western Welsh carried lm.. more. This concern had expanded its services and its stage-carriage and express routes covered 2,873 miles, The vehicles ran 23m. miles last year. Fifty 44-seat, underffoor-enginetl buses were on order.
• Sir Ronald G. Leon, chairman of the West Riding concern said that the latest addition to the fuel tax made further fares increases , inevitable, because it Was impossible for the industry to absorb taxation of such magnitude and maintain existing services.
He hoped that when the licensing procedure was reviewed the importance of preventing rises in the cost of living caused by higher fares would be recognized ,