M. and S. Succeed with £5,500 Fares Bid : S.O.A. Cleared
Page 45
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
RARE increases designed to yield an I extra 15,500 in a full year were, last week, granted to the Mexborough and Swinton Traction Co., Ltd., by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority. The company's last application for higher fares, made last October, was refused.
For the applicants, Mr. S. D. Herington said it was proposed to withdraw workers' returns and to increase through fares to Rotherham and certain single fares. It was important to keep fares on motorbus services in line with those on trolleybuses. If the application were granted the fares would be almost identical, and the total increased revenue would be £16,403.
Mr. Herington said that a wage award in November had added £7,000 to costs. That made a total increase of £19,000 in 1956, and an extra £3,000 was estimated for 1957.
Trolleybus increases in January had been expected to bring in £2,500, but this was now doubtful. During the past six months the number of passengers had dropped by 350,000, and.
although there had been a gain of 150,000 on motorbuses, there was still an overall loss of 21 per cent.
The total estimated increased revenue of £18,903 was still below costs, he said.
In 1955, the company's surplus was £31,733. Without the .increases, it would be down to £17,000 in 1956
Finding More Money
Mr. D. R. Vernon, the company's general manager, said they had not allowed for the new wage demand, but if an additional 10s. were granted they would have to find £7,000-18.000.
The chairman of the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. W. P. James, said in Birmingham, last week, that allegations that some Shropshire Omnibus Association vehicles were not roadworthy had proved to be unfounded.
The Association successfully applied to increase fares on their services between Wellington and Wrockwardine Wood. The application covered ordinary singles and children's fares, as well as workers' returns, which were raised by 4-1d.
Mr. James said the allegations had been made by the Wrekin Trades Council. who requested an inspection before the grant was made. This had been done, and there was no criticism to make.
In addition to the trades council, the application was opposed by Oakengates Urban District Council. Wellington Rural District Council did not attend to support an earlier representation.
Mr. H. Tranter, for the Association, said the two local authorities had failed on a previous occasion to produce evidence of the insufficiency of local services. "I think it is doubly unfortunate that the same two authorities, taking the same view again, should not have even gone to the trouble to inform your office that there was no substance in their objection," he said.
Decision was reserved on an application for higher fares on an express service run between Donnington and the Sentinel works, Shrewsbury, by Messrs. G. Cooper and Sons, Oakengates, who are members of the Association. Mr. Tranter said the application was to bring fares into line' with recent increases granted to the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.
Liverpool Transport Committee have approved proposed fares increases which, if granted, are expected to bring in £541,000 in a full year. The Oroposals include the raising of the minimum fare from 11d. to 2d.
The transport department lost 1198.806 last year, the accumulated deficit at the end of March being £285,906. On present fares, the estimated accumulated deficit at the end of the current financial year is about £478,000.
In anticipation of the granting of the new wage Claim, Leicester Transport Committee have ordered the preparation of an application to increase fares. The chairman of the committee, Cllr. S. Bridges, said that if the wage claim were granted in full it would cost the transport department £65,000 a year.
It is understood that Walsall Transport Committee are considering making an immediate application for permission to raise fares. It was revealed last week that, although the transport department had a gross surplus of £36,154 at the end of the last financial year, there was a net deficit of £11,405.
S.T.C. CHAIRMAN FORECASTS NATIONALIZATION
QHAREHOLDERS of the Singapore )--1 Traction Co., Ltd., were told by Sir Thomas J. Strangman, Q.C., chairman, at the annual meeting, in London, last week, that it appeared likely that the company would be nationalized.
He was referring to the report by a commission of inquiry early this year that public transport services in the island should be unified into a single undertaking under common ownership. As all political parties in Singapore were in favour of nationalization, it appeared that the necessary legislation would be passed. When that would be, and when the take-over would actually take place, it was impossible for him to say.
Profits for the year were £99,830, as against £91,600 in the previous year, the increase being more than accounted for by a reduction of £24,000 in the charge for taxation.
Despite strikes lasting some 10 days, the number of passengers carried increased by 2.34 per cent, and mileage by 4.37 per cent.