HALF B.E.T. SERVICES LOSE MONEY
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AT least a half of the bus services run by the B.E.T. companies, accounting for about a third of the mileage covered, were operated at a loss, Mr. J. S. Wills, chairman of B.E.T. Omnibus Services, Ltd., told shareholders on Monday.
All over the Country, rural bus services were in jeopardy because of their ever-increasing losses and nothing could do more to assist their survival than the removal of the fuel tax.
Reviewing the company's overseas interests," Mr. Wills said that African Transport Co., Ltd., and Rhodesia United Transport, Ltd., had made great strides in developing integrated goods and passenger services. The African Transport group, operating in Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda, had greatly extended their activities.
The Rhodesia United group, operating throughout Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, had made even more spectacular progress. More than £1m. was spent on new vehicles and buildings during the past year.
The group were operating a mail service from Northern Rhodesia to East Africa. Last month a luxury express service was inaugurated from -Johannesburg to Salisbury, via Bulawayo. The trip of 824 miles was performed in about 17 hours less time than by train.