3,000 More A Lorries Than Before
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THERE would be 3,000 more Alicence vehicles on the roads after denationalization than there were previously, said Mr. Bernard Winterbottom, national chairman of the Road Haulage Association, at the East Midland Area's annual luncheon in Nottingham on Tuesday. Rates, and consequently profits, might therefore suffer.
W regard to smalls traffic, he said that it would be a mistake to break up the existing organization into very small lots which could not give an efficient service. He was not, however. in favour of gigantic units.
Although the cataloguing of units by British Road Services could be praised, buyers could not ascertain the condition of the vehicles unless they were expert mechanics.
The object of the high reserve prices was to obtain the best offers, but this was a mistaken policy. Although the disposal of the first 20,000 vehicles would not present any difficult problems, careful thought would have to be given to the sale of the remaining 10,000.
Members who asked the R.H.A. to consider their cases were requested by Mr. Winterbottom to be straightforward. This was necessary to strengthen the hand of the Association. hut they have not always been so in the past.
STRONG OPPOSITION TO £53,000 FARE PROPOSALS
OBJECTORS from all parts of the south-west, including Somerset County Council and many local authorities, appeared before the Western Licensing Authority at Bristol, on Tuesday, when the Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd., and Southern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., applied for a £53,000 increase in fares.-
The proposed increases are that the multiplier applied to the adult single fare on fiveand six-day limited-journey tickets be increased from seven to eight and from eight to nine, respectively; season tickets to be increased by 15% (fractions of 3d. to count as 3d.), and the abolition of returns below Is.
Mr. F. A. Stockdale, for the companies, said the increase was needed as a result of wage awards made in December last year. To meet this the Western National required £.32,500 and the Southern National £17,500, a total of £50,000. "We are asking for L53,000,7 he said.
M. H. L. Ellis, secretary and chief accountant of both companies, said the proposed changes in return fares affecting Western National meant that 909 return fares would go up by id.. 70 by 2d., 10 by 3d., four by 4d., and two by 5d.
The Southern National return fare increases proposed were 69 at Id., 48 at 2d., nine at 3d., and one at 4d.
The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday.