Commissioners Reject Claim for Surcharges: Odd -1(1,s to Go
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PROPOSALS by the Southport Transport Department to add a surcharge I to bus fares at weekends and on public holidays were rejected by the North Western Traffic Commissioners at Southport last week. An application to abolish intermediate Id. fares was granted. The undertaking also wished to vary conditions on 17 of their service licences.
For Whom The Bell Tolls •
I CE-CREAM retailers with more than 30 vehicles have been advised by Mr. C. T. Heinlein, an expert on the manufacture of musical chimes, to have their own tunes composed to avoid making annual payments to the Performing Rights Society.
He was speaking at the conference of the Ice Cream Alliance at Buxton last week, and said that any chime played too frequently and loudly would cause annoyance to the public.
A new code of practice, issued by the Alliance, recommends that chimes should not be sounded more frequently than at five-minute intervals. Volume should be set, and the duration of sound be limited to 5 sec.
NIGHT LIGHTS—POLICE REMINDER
1-1 A REMINDER has been issued by the Metropolitan Police concerning the parking of vehicles at night. Although it is four years since the introduction of regulations permitting vehicles to stand without lights in certain circumstances, the statement says that many drivers are still careless.
The Commissioner points out that one of the most important safety measures to be observed is that of parking a vehicle the correct way—with its near side close against the kerb. Vehicles must not be left without lights on a road which is used by buses.
NATURAL RUBBER CHEAPER j A TU RAL-RUBBER tyres, as opposed I '111 to those of synthetic manufacture, are the more economical in the long run. This claim was made by Dr. A. Schallamach, of the British Rubber Producers' Research Association, in London last week. Although natural rubber wore more quickly under certain conditions, it absorbed less power, and therefore required less fuel to propel, he explained.
Running a synthetic SBR tyre Might save about 15s. in respect of tyre life, but put the motorist out of pocket by some £7 for extra petrol,he added.
B.M.C. OUTPUT TARGET
IN two years' time the total production of the British Motor Corporation is expected to amount to lm. vehicles a year. The current production rate of halfa-million vehicles annually is expected to increase in the financial year ending July 31, 1960. by 40-45 per cent.
Since 1946, the total value of the Corporation's exports has been £1,000m. There had been six previous attempts to revise the fare tables, said Mr. P. Bayley-Brown, deputy town clerk, but none had made the department selfsupporting. Operating costs had risen, and fewer people used the buses.
In 1938 they operated at 9d. per passenger-mile with return of 10d. per mile. In 1958 they had operated at 2s. 7d. for a revenue of 2s. 4d. Many services were unremunerative and would have to be cut.
Services to be curtailed would be those with the lowest remuneration. A total of 85,442 miles would be saved, which would lower operating costs by £6,454. Fares involving halfpennies would be abolished, and raised to the nearest Id. It was proposed that a surcharge of Id. should be added to :11 fares on Saturdays, from 1 p.m., Sundays and public holidays.
It was estimated that there would be a
deficit of £11,161 this year. The surcharge would be an experiment, but the department had to seize every possible source of revenue.
More than 30 members of the public protested strongly against the application. Mr. E. Nuttall said that the surcharge would hit families and old folk the hardest. Such people should be protected.
It was pointed out by Mr. F. .Williamson, chairman, that if a child were paying a I id. fare, this would be increased to 2d. At the week-end a surcharge would make this 3d., which would be a 100 per cent. increase. This was far too much.
The chairman said he appreciated the views of the department, but he knew they would not be acceptable to the ratepayers and passengers. They had made a case to merit the abolition of id. fares. The surcharge was retrograde, wrong in principle and must be refused.
With the increase in fares and curtailment of certain services, the department would be better off by some £10,000. The modifications could he brought into effect as soon as the public had been given a week's notice.
FORMER DIRECTOR FINED
A FORMER driver. secretary and rt director of a haulage concern, which ceased trading a year ago, has been fined £20 with £7 7s. costs at Rochdale for failing to keep proper records in respect of the business. John Murphy, 25 Mellor Street. Rochdale. said that because of money difficulties he had acted as secretary of Murphy Bros. (Rochdale), Ltd.. but "did not really understand the work."
He pleaded 'guilty to the charge and sd that he was now working as a driver.
Fantastic Variations Hamper Operations
GG1V1NG a decision at Bristol on Monday Mr. S. W. Nelson, Western Licensing Authority, said that it was fantastic that variations had been imposed that would hamper and restrict the proper use of a company's vehicles.
He granted an application by Messrs. Rossiter and James, Parkend. Glos. to increase the radius to 60 miles on seven B-licenced vehicles carrying coal and building materials. He refused to uplift the conditions on one vehicle carrying quarry materials and an application for one additional tipper for smokeless fuel.
It was stated by Mr. T. D. Corpe, for the applicants, that they had only one vehicle which could operate up to 60 miles. This caused delays and inconvenience. Mr. Fred Rossiter said that the National Coal Board had recently imposed restrictions on delivery times which made things extremely difficult. The company wanted uniformity of conditions.
Objections came from the British Transport Commission and a number of local hauliers.
Mr. Nelson said that there were six different sets of conditions, which he thought was rather stupid.
COM1VIER SALES UP
SINCE the abolition of purchase tax, sales of Commer and Karrier vehicles had greatly increased on the home market. said Lord Rootes, chairman, Rootes Motors. Ltd., in a statement last week. This afforded the makers a sounder foundation on which to base their export trade.
Damage because of fire at the Rytonon-Dunsmore factory was substantial, but insurance arrangements would ensure that assets would not diminish and the earning position would be little affected.
FINANCING EXPORTS
PAA REVISED edition of "Finance for Exports" has been issued by the Credit Insurance Association, Ltd., Staple Hall, Stonehouse Court, Bishopsgate, E.C.3. This book, which explains the various ways in which overseas trade may be financed and describes the various organizations working in this field, first appeared six years ago.
The new edition takes account of changes that have occured in the interim and is aimed at "a more knowledgeable and sophisticated audience.The booklet is free.
NEW EXIDE SERVICE AGENTS
THE following companies have been appointed Exide battery-service agents by Chloride Batteries, Ltd.:—
Ennals and Castel!, Ltd., Weston Street, North' ampton; F. W. Mays and Co.. Ltd., South Street. Dorking, Surrey; Frank H. Jenkins, Ltd.. Wallingford. Berkshire; It .G. Components, Ltd., 22 Mincing Lane. Blackburn. Lanes; Loughborough Motor Units, 157 Cromwell Road, Peterborough. Northants; Stephens Tyre Service, Ltd., Chyandare. Penzance. Cornwall; J. Gibbs. Ltd., Longbridge House. Bedtont, Feltham. Middx; S. G. Smith (Motors). Ltd.. Langley Garage, Elmers End. Fleckenham, Kent; Harrison's Electrical and Refrigeration. Ltd., 142 High Street. Ryde. Isle of
ss of Passengers in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Road Car Co., Ltd,, re now carrying 12m. bus passenyear fewer than they did six years The East Midland Traffic Commiss were told this last week by Mr. Downs, traffic manager, when the ny applied to run more holiday Figures were still declining and r cent, of the company's services anremunerative, he added.
company planned to run a six-day ;ion to South and Mid-Wales, a day trip to the south coast and f Wight, a Scottish eight-day tour aother eight-day tour to Devon and vall Objectors included Barton port, Ltd.. and the Trent Motor on Co., Ltd„ who claimed that there already satisfactory facilities.
chairman, Mr. C. R. Hodgson, )fled decision.
LY WORK PREVENTS EXCESS "HOUGH there had not been the Leasure of checking that the law ad, there was no danger of a driver 7ig excessive hours as every journey be completed in a day. Mr. F. H. , defending, said this when C. W. ger, Ltd.. Halesowen, wholesale tracers and fruiterers, were charged ailing to keep and preserve records lesowen last week.
company were fined a total of £18 .6 2s. costs on five summonses after ng guilty. They were given an absoischarge on a charge of failing to cc records. A company driver. as Brettall. Hasbury, was fined £5 e counts of failing to keep records. pleading guilty.
VERGE PARKING FINE IAULIER, Arthur Vernon Horsey, rome Road, Wells, who was alleged Fe damaged the highway by parking on the grass verge outside his home, eon fined It by Wells magistrates. L, F. Rudyard, the divisional 'or, said that as a result of the parke grass verge had been worn down otl level. In Wet weather the edge highway would break up.
as claimed by Mr. Horsey that the had been used as a dumping place it and tar barrels by the county and that other people parked as there.
was also fined £2 for parking two DS without obligatory lights, igh he said that red lamps had been l in position.
'INES FOR B.R.S. DRIVER
driving longer than the permitted urs and failing to keep proper s, a British Road Services lorry , Frederick Steele, Larches Avenue. n, has been fined a total of £10 and 41 to pay £5 5s. costs. He was found of seven charges by Chorley magisHis employers had suspended hen the incidents occurred, in June, Ir. H. Ashhursr, chairman, hoped hey would show leniency.