M and D fares rise rejected
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• The biggest increased fares application ever sought by Maidstone and District Motor Services Ltd was rejected by the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners this week after a two-day inquiry at Maidstone.
Maidstone and District wanted a profit of £426,000 in 1971 which would have meant fare increases ranging from a penny on the 4e1 minimum fare to 6d on fares over 3s.
Rejecting the application, the Traffic Commissioners asked M and 0 to submit another claim with revised fares which would give it to have a profit of £332,000 in 1971, a cut of £94,000 in its original claim.
Mr Edgar FAY, QC, for the company, had argued that by the end of 1971 increased costs would have drastically reduced the suggested £426.000.
Strood council is to try to persuade the Ministry of Transport, with the help of the nine MPs in the M and D area and local authorities, to hold an inquiry into the alleged inefficiency of the company compelling it to apply for fare increases so often. This was the second this year.