" Staggering " Move Proposed : More FareS Applications
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A SUGGESTION that the Municipal
Passenger Transport Association and the Scottish Road Passenger Transport Association should approach trade associations on the question of staggering working hours was made by Mr. W. Quin, chairman of the Scottish: Licensing Authority, last week, when he granted permission • to Edinburgh Corporation to increase fares on their bus services.
Shops which did little business between 9 a.m. and 930 a.m. might open and close half an hour later, Mr. Quin suggested. Even that would ease " tremendously" the peak problem for bus operators.
The corporation said the transport department was losing at the rate of £250,000 a year on the existing fares. The new rates will come into operation on Sunday.
Belfast Approach
Belfast Transport Department has suggested.to Harland and Wolff and the Confederation of Shipbuilding Unions that they should consider the possibilities of staggering working hours. The general manager, Mr. I. S. Mackie, said that a 7 a.m, start and a 4.30 p.m. finish at the shipyards would enable the undertaking to effect a "colossal saving." and would permit the workers to be given the desired through bus services to Queen's Island.
Fare increases recommended by a sub-committee of Belfast Transport Committee are reported to include a 3d. minimum rate.
Grimsby Transport Committee have approved increases designed to increase revenue by another £23,500 a year. The Grimsby undertaking faces a deficit of about £11,000 at the end of the current financial year.
Further increases in fares at Leeds are likely to be considered soon. The transport department expects to have a surplus of £92,580 at March 31—and a deficit of £61,760 at the end of the 1956-57 financial year.
Scottish Opposition
Dunbarton County Council are to cbject to the applications for higher fares submitted by the Scottish State bus group (The Commercial . Motor, January 13), They are also to send representatives to a joint meeting of local authorities convened by Stirling County Council to discuss the proposed increases.
After studying a financial statement issued by the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., and their associated companies, the vigilance sub-committee set up by local councils in the north-east to consider proposals for higher fares have decided that there would be no point in proceeding with objections to increases.
A number of councils is to oppose the application individually. Northern General pointed out that if their proposals were approved, the resultant revenue would cover only 70-80 per cent. of recent wage increases for workers.
Manchester Transport Committee on Tuesday discussed proposals for higher fares estimated to bring in an extra £500,000 a year.
BUTLIN'S CRITICIZED: LAY-HYS WANTED CRITICISM of the Butlin company's " unco-operalive " attitude towards the provision of lay-bys for buses in Filey holiday camp was voiced by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority when he allowed the Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., to drop passengers at the camp on the Barnsley-Scarborough summer Service.
It was stated that passengers com plained when they were taken into Filey and had to take a bus or taxi to the camp. The Authority said that the matter had been discussed with Butlin's who were " not in the least interested."
Mr. I. Atkinson, for the railways,
said that there was a. railway station at 1:Wain's, with tracks into the camp. Butlin's had not complained of the rail service,
The Authority hoped that lay-bys would be provided before the holiday season started.