50% Cut for roaches: • Operators Face Ruin
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NAANY coach operators would be put LVI out of business by the rough-andready system of fuel rationing, Mr. F. J. Speight, deputy chairman of the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association, told the Minister of Transport in a letter on Tuesday.
Fuel supplies for stage services are to be cut by about 5 per cent., but foi express services, excursions and tours. and contract work by some 50 per cent.
Mr. Speight described the rationing system as " ill-founded and inequitable." The extensive hire of coaches for works and school contracts was, he said. generally unremunerative and was subsidized from the more remunerative services. Almost to eliminate the paying services would leave the operator with no alternative but to suspend works and school services. "It is a harsh and totally unfair procedure on both the operator and the public," Mr. Speight said.
Increased public services would be required to deal with the greater traffic caused by the limited mileage allowed to the private motorist, and to reduce fuel supplies for public-service vehicles was unwise. Many stage services did not differ materially from express and contract services.
P.V.O.A. thought that a 10-per-cent. cut in supplies should be applied to all public-service vehicle operators. Unless fuel rationing were to be extended to the railways, the Associa-. tion's fears expressed on the White Paper proposals for the railways would be more than justified.
P.V.O.A. are holding an open meeting of coach operators at the Connaught Rooms, Gt. Queen Street. London, W.C.2. at 3 p.m. next Tuesday. to consider fuel rationing.
LAMBETH TO CONVERT TO OIL? THIRTY-NINE refuse collectors of I Lambeth Borough Council may be converted from petrol to oil fuel. An oil engine is to be installed in a vehicle for a three-month trial and the remainder of the fleet will be adapted if results are satisfactory.
Dr. J. Summers. Medical Officer of Health, had advised that if oil engines were properly maintained their exhaust fumes were less noxious than those of petrol engines. The public services committee consulted 21 other authorities on conversion, and estimate that a complete change-over to -oil fuel would save about £10,500 a year.
ONE-MAN-BUS PAY UP
DRIVERS of one-man buses operated by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.. are to be paid 15 per cent. above their basic rate for this duty. The original additional rate, which led to differences between the company and the Transport and General Workers'—Union, was 10 per
cent. of the basic rate. •