Hants and Dorset Seek New Monthly Seasons
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WHEN Hants and Dorset Motor W Services, Ltd., applied to increase fares at Bournemouth last week, the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners were told that the company were introducing, for the first time in the area, monthly season tickets which would give unlimited travel for a calendar month.
Mr. J. R. Samuel-Gibbon, for Hants and Dorset, said that the company estimated a £150,000 increase in costs in a full year. The fares increases were designed to produce £129,000. It was not the company's intention to pass on the whole of the increased costs but to absorb the balance. Biggest item in the increased costs was the May wage award, which was estimated to cosi £85,000.
The concessions the company proposed introducing were the monthly season tickets, five-day weekly tickets available on any five days out of six (excepting Sunday), and certain additional stages.
Pointing out that more passengers were taking advantage of return fares, Mr.
Wilts and Dorset Fares Up
rARES increases on the Wilts and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., routes in their area were approved by the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners.
Mr. D. G. Finley, secretary and accountant of the company, said that the application was made to meet increases in costs. the chief one being the wage award in May which would cost the company 139,850 in a full year.
The estimated profit for this year on the basis of present fares was £21,485, or 1.62 per cent, of the capital employed. The additional revenue expected to be produced was £40.600 in a full year. S. Bartlett, traffic manager, said: "1 consider we ought to be looking not only at the immediate future but at the distant future. It is obvious to us as operators in large towns that the parking problem for the car user is becoming increasingly difficult.
"1 feel that there is a new source of revenue that we should not ignore and that if someone normally uses a car and finds it difficult, he may be encouraged to park it on the perimeter of a town and go by a 4d. minimum fare, which is some way from the centre of a town.
" That person could give us a month and use our services as required. I feel that there, there is a new source of revenue."
Mr. H. I. Thom, the chairman, said unless the company's hopes for the future were fully realized, they would have to indulge in loans from the British Transport Commission, which would involve interest rates. That would not be to the benefit of the travelling public.
More For Y.W.D.
and Hebble
THE Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners granted fares increases to Yorkshire Woollen District Transport Co., Ltd., and Hebble Motor Services, Ltd., at Leeds last week.
It was stated that increased costs to the Yorkshire Woollen Co. would be £33,999 this year and £50,522 next year. The proposed increases would bring in £43,565.
The Commissioners were told that Hebble Motor Services, Ltd., had to face increased costs of £16,605 in a full year. The increases would bring in £9,855.