B.T.C. Fares Scheme Hearing Ends
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AFTER 34 days, the Transport
• Tribunal, in London, on Monday, concluded the hearing of the British Transport Commission's draft passenger charges scheme. Among the prbposals are a 2d. minimum fare in London.
In his final submission, Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve, K.C., for the B.T.C., said that nearly all the Commission's total deficit was caused by delay in raising charges. He thought it would be better for the public to pay up quickly rather than to pay a great deal more later. He stressed the importance of flexibility in charging and the apporticinment of central charges.
"CHILLY BLAST" FOR NEXT YEAR OR TWO
"
HE temptation to adopt a more 1 generous policy towards our ordinary shareholders is a great one But we have deliberately, with over £1m. placed to group reserves, erred on the side of conservatism. A cold wind will be blowing through the western world for the next year or two, and nowhere will the blast be more chilly than in these islands. And a little fat on the bone keeps you warm in the winter."
Sir William Rootes, chairman of Rootes Motors, Ltd., made this statement in the company's annual report. Referring to rearmament work, he said that some interference with production Was inevitable, particularly affecting cOmmercial vehicles.
VEHICLE MAKERS TO EXTEND • INTERESTS THROUGH J. Henry Schroder and I Co., merchant bankers, the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., Briggs Motor Bodies, Ltd., Ford Motor Co„ Ltd., and the Prencel Steel Co., Ltd., each propose to subscribe for £25,000 of 5 per cent. debentures in British lndestructo Glass, Ltd. The glass company's capital will thereby be raised by £100,000. Mr. H. J. Graves (Austin), Mr. F. B. Dixon (Briggs), Mr. F. E. W. Hammond (Ford) and Mr, F. E. Cairns (Pressed Steel) will join the board of British Indestructo Glass, Ltd. Mr. J. F. Mallabar will become chairman.
AUSTIN'S CANADIAN H.Q.
THE premises of Austin Ontario Motors, Ltd., Toronto, have been taken over by the Austin Motor Co. (Canada), Ltd, The building has become the sales and advertising headquarters for Austin in the Dominion and distribution centre for the province of Ontario. Repair and service shops in the building cover over 25,000 Stl. ft.
RAIL CHARGES UP AGAIN?
AN application has been made by the British Transport Commission for an increase of 10 per cent, in railway freight charges. It is proposed also that the rates for small parcels carried by goods train should be raised by about 20 per cent., and for returned empties by 50 per cent.
MAIDSTONE FARES APPEAL: "70-PER-CENT. RISES"
A, BOLITION of all return fares up to PA and including ts. would bring in an extra revenue of £250,980 to Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., whereas £327,936 was needed to enable the company to continue running efficiently.
Mr. K. Hamilton, for the company, made this statement to Mr. Tudor Davies at the hearing of an appeal against a decision of the South-Eastern Licensing Authority to abolish return fares. Mr. F. Hill, for the Councils of Chatham, Gillingham and Rochester, said that the company had sought an overall increase of 22 per cent., yet the abolition of returns meant that some advances were 70 per cent.
"SLEDGEHAMMER FOR A NUT," SAYS AUTHORITY Vf /HEN Mr. F. J. McHugh, for the YY Road Haulage Executive, suggested to Mr. J. Bowman, of Penrith, that an extension of his radius of operations would cause abstraction of traffic from some 30 other B-licensees in the area, the Northern Licensing Authority commented: "That is a kind of sledgehammer for a nut."
Mr. Bowman's application concerned one vehicle and he wished to run up to a distance of 25 miles: his existing licence bore a 15-mile restriction. He had originally been a general dealer, but had obtained a carrier's licence in 1949.
In granting the application, the Authority stated: This is a case where a person who is no longer a general dealer must have enough to keep him going."
EXPORT-MARKET SEARCH WILL INTENSIFY "WHEN supplies of raw materials IT become plentiful, as unquestionably they will when rearmament needs are satisfied, the search for overseas markets will become intense." This observation is made by Mr. A. B. Waring, chairman of Joseph Lucas. Ltd., in his annual report.
The sales by all operating groups of the company increased by an average of nearly 20 per cent. during the year ended July 31. The cost of materials continued to rise and reached a new peak. The price of materials used in a set of lighting and starting equipment in a vehicle is now four times higher than before the war, Mr. Waring states.