Higher Fares for Five Operators: More Applications Submitted
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GRANTING permission last week to Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., to increase fares, the North-Western Licensing Au t hori it y, Mr. F. Williamson, said: "An indication of how important we feel this matter to be can be gained from the fact that out of 334 stage-carriage services operated by the company no less than 216 of them are operating at a loss."
He considered that the £207,000 which the increases would produce each year represented a reasonable demand.
• The increases, which are expected to come into operation on Easter Saturday, will range from id. on existing 21d. fares to 6d. on rates of 5s. Id. and over.
Southport Case Succeeds
The Authority has also approved Southport Corporation's proposals to add id. to their 2d. and 2d. fares. An application to place a id. surcharge on fares at week-ends was rejected. The new rates will be charged from today.
Permission to charge higher fares. estimated to yield an extra 09,000 a year, was granted to the Potteries Motor Traction Co.. Ltd., by the West Midland Licensing Authority in a reserved decision announctd last week. Thirteen other operators are also affected by the decision. The new rates will come into operation tomorrow.
Hearing of the P.M.T. application was reported in The Comnkrcial Motor last week.
A 20-per-cent. increase in fares was granted to the Southern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., and the Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd., on Monday. Announcing his decision, Mr. S. W. Nelson, Western Licensing Authority, said the two companies were to be commended on their intensified efforts to economize and not pass the full additional costs on to passengers.
Yorkshire Traction Apply Mr. David 'Carmel, Q.C, representing 13 local authorities objecting to an application for higher rates made by the Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., before the Yorkshire Licensing Authority last week, issued the advice to leave workers' fares where they were.
Another objecting council contended that if workers' fares were to be abolished it should be done by the Ministry of Transport, and not as a " piece-meal policy" that had not been considered.
These replies were given in answer to the general manager of the company, Mr. N. H. Dean, who asked: "Why should workmen travel at a preferential rate? I am against the principle."
He added that he was sure it was bad. It had been the company's policy to decrease the number of workers' fares over a period.
Maj. F. S. Eastwood, chairman, 114 remarked that workers' fates had been abolished in many parts of the country.
Mr. F. A. Stockdale, for Yorkshire Traction, who proposed adding d. to ordinary single fares, and Id. to some workers' returns and 2d. to others, said that costs would be increased by £58.000 this year and £61,000 next.
The objectors contended that the company were already in a flourishing condition and did not need the increases.
Decision was reserved.
Thirty-one small operators in the area have applied to the Northern Licensing Authority to bring their fares into line with those authorized to United Automobile Services, Ltd., and the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd.. and their associated companies (The Commercial Motor, last week).
Applications for permission to raise their charges have been made to the Yorkshire Licensing Authority by Chesterfield Corporation and Hanson's Buses. Ltd.'
Chesterfield's main proposals are the addition of id. to most of the 21d. fat;es, and to the 3d.. 31d. and 4d. rates..'
Hanson's Buses also wish to increase their 21d.-4d. rates by Id., and fares of 41d. and above by Id.
_ BUXTON TO STANDARDIZE?
QTANDARDIZATION of vehicles Lti has been urged upon Buxton Corporation by a sub-committee which has been studying the question. It is seeking the most economical type of refuse-collection vehicle, and has recommended that all new vehicles be powered by Perkins engines.
The sub-committee is also interested in the possibility of using refuse trailers towed by Ferguson or other tractors, and has planned for some of the councillors and borough officials to visit 1.camington to sec tractor-trailer refuse vehicles at first hand.