Union Opposes Workmen's Fares : Southampton Makes First Increase
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SUPPORT from the Transport and General Workers' Union for the ,ibolition of workmen's fares may now encourage operators to adopt this method of meeting rapidly rising costs. At one of the conferences held by the Union to discuss the work of the road passenger group. a resolution was passed calling for the abolition of workmen's tares. which, it was contended, were no longer justified. The time was opportune, it was stated, for a reexamination of existing fares structures, Decision on the application of bus workers for higher pay is still awaited, but Mr. F. Coyle, national secretary 9f the passenger section of the Union, said that if the application were granted, increased wages could be met only by the adjustment of fares. He asked that when applications were made, no objeclions should be lodged by the Union. Transport workers felt that the wages of industrial workers should not be subsidized by cheater fares, at the expense of the wages of transport workers.
He said that improved rates of pay were justified to compensate for the particular conditions of service in the passenger transport industry. In a period of full emplo9ment, general industrial wages were comparable with those inthe passenger transport industry, but the five-day Week had to be taken into consideration.
The effect of the five-day week on the bus industry had been to increase costs And exaggerate the traffic peaks. Moreover, because of the reduced services required for works transport, etc., standing charges had to be met out of shorter periods of running.
After a hearing lasting a day, the South Eastern Licensing Authority approved the application of Southampton Corporation to increase fares tip to 3d. by /d. Permission to raise 4d. to 6d. tickets by the same amount was refused, but approval was given to a proposal to make return tickets available up to 9 a.m, and to increase returns up to 6d. by ld.
The new rates, which will come into force next Monday, represent the first change in the corpotatton's fares structure since the transport department was formed.
Fares at Plymouth will also be modified shortly. Application was made to raise 3d., 4cl. and 5d. tickets by Id., hut permission was granted to add only /d. The application was made by the corporation in conjunction with the Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd.
Allen's Motor Services. Ltd., operating in the Loughborough area, has applied for fares increases.
The Lincolnshire Road Car Co., Ltd., has been granted permission to adjust fares on express services to London to bring them to 25 per cent, above prewar figures. Applications to modify rates on the same basis have now been lodged by Associated Motorways in regard to the express services radiating from Birmingham and Cheltenham and by Yorkshire Pool Services.
Yelloway Motor Services. Ltd., Roehdale seeks to modify its fares in the same way on the Blackpooland 1112ckburn London routes. United Aut.mnobiLt• Services, Ltd., Darlington, has received authority to increase the Newcastle-on-Tyne-London and Darlington-London return rates, and the United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., has applied separately to increase rates on Birmingham-Lowestoft services.