Authority Speaks of Rates " War "
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PAA REMINDER that the regular travelling public could not be expected to subsidize rates for privatehire work was given by the Scottish Deputy Licensing Authority last week. He granted licences to W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., Aberfeldy Motor Coaches, Ltd., Auchterarder Motors, Ltd., Messrs. A. and C. McLennan and Messrs. J. P. Williamson to run special tours to the forthcoming Royal High. land Show at Alloa.
It was a matter of common knowledge, said the Authority, that there was a continuous rates " war " in private hire, over which he had no control. He referred to an earlier hearing at which Messrs. Simpson's Motors, Rosehearty, applied to run tours to the Show at rates similar to their private-hire prices, but lower than those charged on their regular services.
A fare of 18s. was quoted by Simpson's and this worked, out to slightly over id. per mile.. Another applicant, Messrs. A. Burnett, Mintlaw, proposed a charge of 22s. 6d. Alexander's, whose charge was 25s., objected, and only when Simpson's and Burnett's agreed to raise their rates to a similar figure did the Authority grant them licences.
When fares on regular services were raised at the beginning of the year, the Authority continued, operators were warned that the increases could not be used to subsidize private-hire work.