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Pointers from the Discussions on the Papers

19th June 1936, Page 51
19th June 1936
Page 51
Page 52
Page 51, 19th June 1936 — Pointers from the Discussions on the Papers
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

"Merchandising Passenger Transport Conic. F. LEACH said that the fundamental requirement for drivers and conductors is good health, and he saw nothing in the paper in respect of this point. At Leeds there was a 7 per cent, loss of staff for long periods through sickness. By providing a fine messroom and cheap meals the figure had been reduced to between 3 and 4 per cent. At Edinburgh even a chiropodist was employed, Most managers in advertising services lack the saving ,sense of humour. Passengers were 'tiredof looking at ordinary vehicle notices and route maps; there should be something

to raise a smile. Boxes for collecting unpaid fares had produced a very substantial amount of money. MR. S. J. PATMORE was disappointed that more had not been said on how to attract artificial traffic. The time will come when every transport undertaking would have a permanent official as "sales manager of seats." He referred to the importance of adequate lighting.

MR. I): KeNi4iiii 'referred to a 'Municipality that was operating a completely mechanized systena Of ticket isetting. He said that accident claims had been reduced becausr the 114.1

conductors could spend more time on the platforms.

COUN. A. MILLAR also said that there should be no differentiation in fares. It was wrong to use bus receipts to 'subsidize rates, as municipal transport should be done at cost price.

Fare Need Not be Proportional to Distance.

ALD. A. J. DOBBS said that transport is a utility service and a fare need. not be in proportion to the distance travelled. He suggested devising some differentiation between business and pleasure travel. A universal fare, or perhaps two, would be advantageous. At present a workman may pay a low fare and his wife correspondingly more later in the day. It is a question of tolerating advertisements and lowering fares or doing without them and raising the cost.

ALD. J. BOWIE said that for 10 years Manchester transport had handed £100,000 annually to rate relief. He thought it beneficial for ratepayers to be given some return for the investment; each should he treated as a shareholder.

MR. T. E. THOMAS suggested that wages paid to workmen did not take into consideration the fact that they are receiving transport at reduced fares. There should be some adjustment to permit standard fares throughout the day. It was a mistake to throw away advertisement revenue. An advantage of the longitudinal seat was that when the vehicle wa., braked rapidly passengers slid along them and made room for others. Ticket machines were not yet sufficiently reliable to obviate the use of all tickets. For certain purposes they did not give sufficient information.

Fare Boxes May Encourage Laziness.

In his reply, MR. A, A. jAcKsost said he was not convinced of the value of fare boxes, they might encourage laziness amongst conductors. The speeding up permitted by ticket machines might avoid the need for them. In considering housing estates the transport committee should be the first to be consulted. Workmans fares, which were originally a privilege, are now generally regarded as a right. He suggested the use of phosphorescent signs for night stops. There had been some disastrous experiences in American cities with universal fares. Most of the present profit was on the penny and twopenny classes.

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Locations: Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds

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