Reading Fare Increase Granted
Page 46
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FARES increases designed to yield an extra £63,000 a year were granted to Reading Corporation, last week, by the South Eastern. Traffic Commissioners, They had been told by Mr. P. Gosling, deputy. borough treasurer, that a surplus of £13,800 in .1956-57 became a deficit of £9,800 the following 'year, and this year the Corporation were faced witif a deficit of £30,500:
Mr. Gosling said there were insufficient reserves to cover this amount, so unless the increases were granted the undertaking would become a burden on the rates. In addition to this year's deficit, it was calculated that next year the loss would be £38,100, and in the following three years the figures would be £25,500, £30,900 and £34,900.
The reserve fund stood at £47,000 last April, but £30,000 of it was required as working capital. If the application were granted and produced £63,000, the fund could be built up to £106,000 by March, 1961. However, that did not allow for any further pay increases or price rises, nor did it allow for the replacement of buses out of revenue. instead of by loan, which the transport committee was anxious to introduce, •
In the next three years, six single-deck buses and 20 trolleybuses would have to be replaced, at a total cost of £152,700.
c8 Mr. W. J. Evans, transport manager, said the post-war policy of the department had been to introduce every possible economy, but the spiral of rising costs was beating them all the time. One economy which was to be extended was the use of single-deck crush-load buses, six of which were in service and four more were on order. On some routes they could save 125 a week.
Replying to the Commissioners. Mr. Evans said that in arriving at their figures they had reckoned on 7.8 per cent. passenger resistance, although they hoped it would be less.
TWO B-LICENCE LORRIES TAKEN OVER
L-1. A TAKE-OVER application by Mr.
R. G. Bassett, Titensor, Stoke-onTrent, was granted last week by the West Midland Licensing Authority, ?qr. W. P. James. Two B-licence tippers operated by J: T. Wilshaw and Sons, Packmoor, were involved.
At the same bearing, Grayswood Transport, Ltd., of whom Mr. Bassett is managing director, were allowed to replace a petrol-engined 34-ton tipper by a steel-lined oiler weighing 54tons. They were also allowed to increase the weight of a vehicle licensed for school meals operation and collection and delivery.