Crowning Folly
Page 32
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THE course of events for the Ulster Transport Authority seldom runs smoothly. In 1956-57— their third profitable year in a period of nine years since their formation—they began to climb out of a morass of debt by earning a net surplus, after all charges, of £93,772. They appeared to be grappling successfully with a difficult economic situation.
Their hopes were, however, dashed by the Ulster Government, who wished on them the Northern Ireland section of the Great Northern Railway Board's undertaking, complete with heavy debt charges. The immediate result was a net deficit of £61,330 in the year to September 30 last, bringing the 10 years' accumulated losses to £2.4m.
The Authority may well be forgiven for saying "I told you so" in their report for last year. They are the victims of the folly of heaping nationalization upon nationalization. Unless they are relieved of their new financial liabilities they will be unable to run the Great Northern Railway, as they are required to do by statute.
Even without these additional burdens, U.T.A. will be hard pressed to show a profit in future. They give warning in their annual report of possible action that may be unpalatable both to the public and employees.
Like other operators, they are faced with keen competition from private transport—the number of private cars has increased by 31 per cent. and of motorcycles by 11 per cent. since 1956—and from television, the popularity of which has grown since a transmitter was installed in Londonderry just over a year ago. On the evidence of their report, they are trying to deal realistically with their problems. Economy is being promoted by converting single-deck buses into doubledeckers wherever possible, and on the goods side U.T.A. are catering increasingly for specialized traffic.
In the circumstances, the note of bitterness in their report is well justified. Parliament has given them until September 30, 1964, to establish a satisfactory financial position, and thereafter to maintain it. They will not be able to do so unless the Government, who have created an untenable situation for the Authority, undo the harm that they have done.