Leeds Granted Big . Fare Application
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rRITICISM of the undertaking's " high administrative charges" was made by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority, Major F. S. Eastwood. when (as reported in The Commercial Motor last week) he granted in full an application by Leeds Transport Department to raise fares. The increases, which will come into effect -on January 30, will yield an extra 017,000 a year.
He also stated that it was the first application to be made under the Transport Charges, etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. "it beats Blackpool by half an hour," Major Eastwood said.
Mr. A. B. Findlay, general manager, said that only 18 bus routes showed a surplus.
In the application, the corporation proposed to abolish workers' returns and to place ordinary fares on the basis of 1d. per mile plus Id. (i.e., 5d, for a four-mile journey).
. Commenting on Major Eastwood's criticism of administrative charges; Aid. J. Rafferty, chairman of the transport committee, said that they were not applied to the department's administrative costs. "His reference was to the high figure, in his opinion, that the transport department itself has to contribute towards the central 'administrative charges of the eity," he added. [Leeds Transport Department pays
£32,864 a year for central administra tion] COUNCIL TO OPPOSE COMPANY MERGER BILL 'THE Parliamentary Bill which seeks I to merge the Chatham and District Traction Co. with Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd. • (The Commercial Motor, January 7), is to be opposed by Gillingham Council.
In 1959, or any subsequent seventh year, the Chatham and District undertaking may be purchased by the corporations of Gillingham, Chatham or Rochester together, or any one or two of them with the consent of the others or either of them.
Gillingham's town clerk, Mr. F. Ilill, said that the decision to petition the Bill did not imply that the borough would necessarily decide to purchase in 1959. It was merely to "preserve the council's position."
BIRMINGHAM SUPPORTS FREE TRAVEL BILL
THE Bill designed to empower
Birmingham City Council to provide free or concessionary bus travel for old people, the blind, disabled, and schoolchildren, was strongly supported by ratepayers in a town's poll last week.
A total of 58,261 people voted for the Bill, which was approved by a majority of 41,151. Althoughlhe poll represented only 9.725 per cent, of the electorate, it was the highest for any town poll in the city since 1902.
The Bill is expected to become law before Whitsun.