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B.T.C. Comptroller Hints at Higher Charges Under Schemes

26th May 1950, Page 33
26th May 1950
Page 33
Page 33, 26th May 1950 — B.T.C. Comptroller Hints at Higher Charges Under Schemes
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

JN evidence, last week, during the Transport Tribunal's resumed• inquiry into the interim. London charges scheme, Mr. R. H.. Wilson, comptroller of the British Transport Commission, hinted lint"when, the Commission prepares .tharees schemes for the whole of the ottntry, it will, aim to_ secure. greater

revenue than at present.. .

When Mr. R. MoelwYn Hughes, K.C., for the London 'County. Council, suggested that London passengers were being asked to make good a deficit, of C3.000,000 which could not he covered by he recent increase in. rail freight rates, Mr. Wilson replied that _-ihe allegation was unfair. If, he said, the C'ornmission were presenting a permanent scheme for the whole of the transport in the United Kingdom, it would not . be looking for £3,000,000. Its altimate requirements would be far grea ter than that figure.

Another hint of an all-round increase ii charges in: the future was contained in Mr. Wilson's reply to Mr, N. R. FOxAndrews. K.C., who, on behalf of the National Union of Ratepayers' Associalions, asked how long deficits by the B.T.C. could be expected. Mr. Wilson's answer was that it depended mainly on charges schemes..

Mr. Wilson agreed with Mr. fvfoetwyn Hughes that if the interim charges scheme were approved, London would be paying more for transport than any oiher part of the country, but he did not think the price was unreasonable. Estimated income would not cOver all provisions Which should-be made. The only reason why Londonwas being asked to help to meet these charges before the remainder of the country was that schemes for other areas had. not yet been produced.

Mr. Wilson also denied that the Commission was not strenuously trying to reduce expenses. This was a continuous process, he said. By the end of this year the Commission' accumulated loss was expected to be about

:1:40,000,000. Deficits were at present being financed from liquid resources.

Answering Mr. R. Reader Harris. M.P., for the London Passengers' Association, Mr. Wilson said that in preparing a charges scheme, the Commission did not entirely ignore the effect on the cost of living, but its duty was to balance its accounts: The effect

of fares on the cost of living was considered as part of the problem of selling transport. • In evidence on Monday, Mr. A. B. B. Valentine, a member of the London Transport Executive, admitted that the B.T.C. would eventually abolish all workmen's tickets and early-morning concession fares.

The heoring wilt be resumed next 'Thursday.


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