UNOFFICIAL" FARE: COMPANY'S APOLOGY
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WHAT was termed an " unofficial " VY fare of -Id., charged by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., instead of the • authorized fare of 5d., was severely commented upon by Sir John Maxwell, presiding temporarily at a sitting of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, at Scarborough, on Monday.
Mr. A. N. Tucker, traffic manager, said that people objected to paying the extra Id. for a journey of 250 yards. Passengers had actually refused to pay more than 4d., and had declined to leave the buses. Mr. Tucker admitted a contravention of the regulations, and said that the company had brought its present applicationfor the Commissioners' approval of the 4d, fare.
Sir John Maxwell remarked that he could not understand how the unauthorized fare had been included in the company's time-table. He added: " I look upon it as very serious that this fare stage has been altered without the permission of the Commissioners. It has made a farce of the whole proceedings. The company ought to apologize to the Commissioners for this .mistake and withdraw the application."
The Commissioners accepted an unreserved apology. The company withdrew the application, and Sir John Maxwell stated that if the full lam were not charged in future, prosecution would have to be considered.
DUBLIN BUS STRIKE SETTLED.
"THE strike of employees of the I. Dublin United Tramways Co., Ltd., which was in progress for 11 weeks, was settled last Friday and the transport services were fully resumed on Saturday morning. The proposals which formed the basis of the present agreement were submitted to the strikers by the Irish Free State
Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. Sean Lemass).
The wages of bus drivers will be increased to 70s, (first • class), 68s. (second class), and 66s. (third class). The wages of conductors will now range from 35s., in the first year of service, to 50s. in the fifth year. The company is also to negotiate an agreement with the unions, on the understanding that the conditions of employment, but not wages, for bus conductors and drivers will be similar to those for tram drivers and con ductors. It is anticipated that the new agreement will cost the company about £40,000 a year and an increase in fares may, it is stated, be made.
POOLE APPROVES SETTLEMENT. DOOLE Borough Council, last week. I approved, so far as its own interests are concerned, the draft headings of agreement between Bournemouth Corporation and Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., for the operation of motorbuses from Bournemouth to Poole. The terms of the settlement of the local transport dispute were announced in last week's issue.
Representatives of Bournemouth Corporation and Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., met in London, last week, when the headings of agreement were approved and signed.
"MAIDSTONE AND DISTRICT" INCREASED PROFIT.
DURING the year ended March 31 L./Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., recorded a trading. profit of £187,350, before providing for depreciation and income tax, which is £8,088 higher than for the previous year. After making provision for depreciation (£102,793) and income tax (210,229), and adding £11,500 to the reserve, there is a balance of ,g68,o28.
The dividend on the 6 per cent. cumulative preference shares absorbs £13,000, whilst a final dividend of 7,1 per cent. on the ordinary capital will account for £30,000 (the interim dividend was 5 per cent.), which will leave' £20,191 to be carried forward, as compared with £20,163 brought into the accounts.