Bus Charges Still Cheap By Comparison
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" PUBLIC transport is and will continue to be, an essential service and although we must again increase our charges the services provided will still be cheap in comparison with the prices of most other commodities," said Mr. John Spencer Wills, chairman, Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., at the annual meeting, at Stratfordupon-Avon, on Tuesday.
Referring to the recent wages and conditions awards made to workers, Mr. Wills expressed the hope that this important settlement would bring stability to the industry and help to encourage the recruitment of staff to offset the present serious shortage of labour.
He pointed out that the award covered not only platform staff, but also skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled maintenance workers and that the cost to the company would be approximately i650,000, which would represent an increase of some 71 per cent, of total costs, for a full year.
The reduction of the basic week from 44 to 42 hours, together with the increase of wages, meant that a top driver with a basic wage of £9 ls., calculated on a 44-hour week, would receive a minimum of LI is. 11d, extra per week. As there were few depots where conductors and drivers actually worked only 44 hours, Ira most cases the individual increase would be considerably more than the minimum.
Employment in the Midlands generally was at a high level and this position placed a heavy strain on drivers, conductors and supervisory staff. Operating costs were increased because overtime and other penalty payments had to be made because of staff shortages, continued Mr. Wills.
Referring to fares increases introduced last June and July, Mr. Wills remarked that these had been delayed until the last possible moment. The increased costs which had forced this rise had been carried by the company for nearly eight months before revenue had been increased.
It was reported that during 1959 the company's vehicles had run a total of 75,145,000 miles, which was approximately half per cent. more than the previous year. The total number of passengers carried showed a similar increase with a figure of 371m.
So far the company had maintained all its rural services, said Mr. Wills, although in some cases frequency had been reduced. But, as many of these services lost money heavily, serious consideration would have to be given to the question of continuing this policy, he warned.
CWMBRAN BUS INQUIRY BUS companies in Monmouthshire are to be asked to carry out an inquiry into services in the Cwmbran New Town area. The request will be made by Pontypool Rural District Council, who were told at their May meeting that there had been numerous complaints about services.