UNIFORMITY IN CHILDREN'S FARES
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UNIFORMITY in the age at which children should travel free of charge or at half-rates was urged upon the North-Western Traffic Commissioners on Monday, when Blackburn Corporation applied for sanction for free travel up to the age of five years and at half fare from five to fourteen years. Accrington Corporation had put these terms in operation in 1931 and the two services were now co-ordinated, so that the situation in Blackburn was anomalous.
Mr. G. H. P. Beames (for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co.) stated that, for some time. the four railways had been investigating this matter. On the railways, since 1842, children had been carried free up to the age of Eine years and
then at half-fare up to 12 years, but recently the limit had been raised to 14 years. To these limits the Minister of Transport had, in an appeal decision, a fortnight ago, reduced the children's fares concessions on the Yorkshire Pool Services and he thought this ruling should be taken as a guide.
The application was granted on the ground that the advantages enjoyed at Accrington could not be taken away, hut, in ordinary circumstances; said Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman, the Minister's decision would be taken as a guide.
AGENCY EVIDENCE EXCLUDED FROM APPEAL HEARING.
ONMonday, the third and concluding day's hearing of the appeals of George Ewer and Co., Ltd., and others, against the decision of the South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners regarding the issue of single tickets on seasonal express services from the
coast to London, took place. The final arguments were heard.
At the previous hearing the question a.42 was raised as to whether Sir Henry Wynne, the inspector, could consider evidence regarding alleged restrictive agreements upon booking agents enforced by • London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., which the South-Eastern Commissioners had declined to hear. After an adjournment, Sir Henry decided that he could not entertain it.
U.A.S. STATION OFFER FAILS.
AN offer by United Automobile Services, Ltd., to erect a bus station at West Hartlepool has been rejected by the town council, which has decided to proceed with its own station at a cost of 212,000.
NEWPORT'S RESULTS IMPROVED. DRELIMINARY figures for the
operation of Newport (Mon.) Corporation's bus and tram undertaking during the year ended March 31 last show increases in receipts, mileage run and passengers carried, when compared to the previous year's figures.
The bus receipts were 265,581, an increase of 2397. The total bus mileage, at 1,298,822, was 7,164 higher, whilst the number of passengers carried rose by 17,087 to 8,051,607. Increases are also recorded in respect of the trams.
£50,000 STATION FOR LEICESTER?
LTHOUGH the original estimate PI for the cost of a new bus station for Leicester was 227,600, it is now reported that the scheme may cost over 250,000, if carried out in its present form. The principle of the provision of a bus station has been approved by the city council, but a definite plan has not yet been drawn up.
DEATH OF RIBBLE OFFICIAL,
THE death occurred, recently, of Mr. H. V. Gledhill, of Blackpool, who was in charge of the Garstang depot of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., and who had previously been in Canada as sales manager of Leyland Motors, Ltd. He was only 34 years of age.
OIL-FUEL TAX AGAIN TO RISE?
A DETAILED report on the effect .1-1 of the increase in the oil-fuel tax
has been submitted to Cardiff Trans port Committee by Mr. William Forbes, the general manager. He points out that there is still a con
siderable economy in fuel cost to be effected by the use of oilers as com
pared with petrol-engined vehicles, but he tempers this statement with a doubt concerning the future of the oil tax.
In view of the remark of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the in creased oil tax still leaves a considerable advantage in favour of the oil-engined vehicle, by reason of its lower fuel consumption, as compared with the petrol vehicle, Mr. Forbes .appears to foresee the possibility of a further increase in the tax. This uncertainty, he says, will have a harmful effect upon the production and development of the oil engine.
The higher oil tax will, in the case of Cardiff, equal .07d. per bus-mile,
or about 2117 per bus per annum.
Thirty-six petrol-engined buses have been converted to the use of oil fuel
and 14 new oilers have been purchased, whilst a further 10 are on order. When the higher tax . comes into force, the corporation will be operating no fewer. than 60 oilers.
The total cost of the purchase of oil engines and new buses was 255,256, which sum, based on a life of five years at a rate of. 50,000 miles per annum per bus, is equal to 211,051 per annum, or .88d. per mile. The fuel cost per mile of the oiler, with oil at 11-Ad. per gallon, was 1.12d., the cor responding figure for the petrol vehicle, with petrol at 1s. per gallon, being 1.99d.
EASTBOURNE'S £7,000 PROFIT.
DURING the year ended March 31. last, Eastbourne Corporation's fleet of 54 buses worked at a profit of about 2.7,000, the receipts having increased by 21,200
NEW GROUP SCHEME FOR EXCURSIONS.
AFTER an interval of seven months, the Yorkshire Regional Fares Committee met in Leeds, last week. It is understood that a discussion took place with regard to excursions and tours, and that the question was raised as to the possibility of introducing a general grouping system in the Yorkshire Area.
Under such a system, a group of terminal points would he allocated to all the operators in each district, at an agreed fare for that district. In other words, an operator would be able to operate to any terminal point in a given group, at an agreed fare. It is argued that the scheme would be simpler, and that effective control would still be exercised, because of the limitation of the number of vetieles available for excursion and tour work.