East Kent Dismiss Many Workers
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ECAUSE economic circumstances had 1:--/ compelled services to be reduced, many drivers and conductors had been dismissed, Mr. R. P. Beddow, chairman of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd.. said on Tuesday. 'The company had for many years incurred heavy losses in the winter and relied on increased traffic in the summer to balance the books. In recent years winter losses had been rising and summer profits had dwindled.
Last year the company paid £171,000 in fuel tax, compared with a net profit of £79,000. The new rate of profits tax would absorb more than £60,000. Traffic receipts and other revenue last year rose by £119,000, and costs, before provision for depreciation, amortization and tax, advanced by £53,000. The wage award made last October would raise costs by some £50,000 a year. The company were considering the question of applying for higher fares, coupled with further economies.
Many single-deckers had been adapted for one-man operation. School traffic carried at dneconomic fares at peak periods continued to expand. When the construction of further new schools on the outskirts of towns was completed, the company might be called upon to provide still more services of this kind. They would do their best to ensure that the education authorities bore a fair share of the cost.