N.S.W. Needs Higher Fares
Page 49
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PASSENGER fares must be increased in New South Wales if the tram, trolleybus and bus services are to become solvent undertakings. Such is the main effect of the report of the Commissioner for Road Transport and Tramways for the year ended June 30, 1946.
It is stated that the operation of the department in the Metropolitan and the Newcastle districts combined resulted in a loss of £379,000 for the year. This is composed of losses of £346,000 and £33,000 in the Metropolitan and Newcastle districts respectively. In the course of the Previous year the aggregate losses on both services had been £95,000. The unsatisfactory financial position was the result of progressiv increases in certain expenditure outside the control of the department. These increases had raised costs above earning capacity at the existing fares.
The incieased expenditure was offset by an advance of £145,000 in earnings and a reduction of £34,000 in the bill for ineerest, exchange and loan management expenses.
Estimates prepared for the present year and actual results in the first three months indicate that a loss of over £500,000 will be sustained for the year.
The report goes on to say that, in view of the present and estimated future unsound financial position of the services, the Commissioner is of the opinion, ag indicated in his reports of April and September, 1945, to the Minister, that an increase in fares should be made as a matter of urgency, and that the most satisfactory procedure would be to revert to the rates in operation before the reduction in 1932. Such an increase would be sufficient to stop the Apancial drift, but would not give any worth-while margin towards overtaking accumulated losses and arrears of maintenance. Cash reserves were being used , partly to meet the current expenditure and would SOOR be exhausted. Some further action, in additiod to the recommended increase in fares, would have to be taken. , 44-HOUR WEEK FOR MUNICIPAL BUS WORKERS
AMEETING of delegates of the Transport and General Workers Union recently endorsed the 44-hourweek for municipal transport workers,. and the provision of six days' holiday in addition to an annual holiday Of 12 days. If these six days cannot be taken on the Bank Holidays, the time must be given to employees during the . working week.
The date of introduction for the new arrangements is stated to be April 1.
245 REGENTS FOR THREE SCOTTISH OPERATORS 'THREE important Scottish operators I are among recent purchasers of A.E.C. Regent Mark HI double-deckers. Glasgow Corporation has ordered 145. the Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., 70, and the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., 30. The last-named has also ordered 70 Regal Mark HI single-deckers. .
Among the largest orders recently placed by English operators for Regent Mark III buses are those of Leicester Corporation (53), Newcastle-on-Tyne Corporation (28), and Nottingham Corporation (15). Halifax Corporation has ordered 34 Regent double-deck'ers and 35 Regal Mark III single-deckers. Twenty-eight of the Regents and 29 of the Regals will be used by the joint authority in which Halifax Corporation has an interest.