Lincoln Rebuked: Portsmouth's State Perturbing: Scots Grants
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Union Official Tells R.H.E. Manager
Q AYI NG that he would like a states-) ment of policy from the corporation on the question of transferring profits from .the transport department to the general rate fund. the East Midland Authority last week rejected the application of Lincoln Corporation for a general increase in fares, He described previous transfers as mistaken policy.
The corporation aimed at increasing annual revenue by £33,990. The transport department incurred a deficit of £6,081 last year, and in the current year the deficit would be £17,733. The deputy town clerk said that to apply for help from the rates, which were now 21s. 6d. in the pound. would be unfortunate.
Reserves "Milked" The East Midland Licensing Authority remarked that the transport department's reserves "had been milked very heavily for the relief of rates." He was disturbed by the 1951 transfer, when rising costs made it plain that it was necessary for the undertaking to preserve every penny. In 1948, when the net profit had been £11,349, the sum of £45,000 had been transferred. In 1950, £7,878 had been transferred, and last year the amount was £15,836.
Reserving decision on the application of Portsmouth Corporation and Southdown Motor Services, Ltd.. for a general increase of fares, the South-Eastern Licensing Authority said that he could not help being perturbed at the position disclosed. In the current year, the corporation undertaking would incur a deficit of £63,000, it was stated, whilst by March; 1953, Southdown costs in the joint area would be up by £[11.537.
Since December. 1950, the corporation wages costs had gone up by £55,000 and other items had advanced by £20,000. The new charges would augment the corporation's revenue by £79,000 a year, and the Southdown revenue in the area by £90,065. The fares applied for were based on two fare stages per mile; the minimum charge would be 11d. for one stage. two stages would cost 2d., three stages 21d., etc. Slight variations were suggested for workmen's and season tickets. Portsmouth fares last went up in April.
Scottish Fares Up From March 3, fares on the services operated by the Scottish Omnibuses group will be increased. Most of the companies' proposals have been granted by • the Scottish Licensing Authority. Single fares from 2d.-6d. will go up by Id. and thereafter by Id. in the shilling up to 6d. in the case of fares over 5s.
Return tickets under 6d. will be discontinued. Thereafter they will be increased by Id. per shilling," with a maximum of 6d. in the case of those over 7s. Period tickets will be based on the revised single charges, and the children's ticket will remain at Id.
At the hearing of the application in larivarY, it waS Stated that operating . costs this year would rise' by al 66,648 compared with the 1950 costs. The B4 companies concerned are Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd.. Western S.M.T. Co„ Ltd., Central S.M.T. Co., Ltd., and W. Alexander and Sons. Ltd.
Newport Corporation has now received permission to withdraw workmen's charges and to revise ordinary rates on a mileage basis. This follows the decision of the South Wales Licensing Authority concerning workmen's fares in the area, reported on page 31.
On February 17, Bury Corporation is to put up its charges for the second time in six months. Permission for the latest variations, which include the addition of Id. to fares from 2id.-4d. and lid. to the 4d. and 5d. fares, was given last week-end.
.Following the introduction of new charges by United Automobile Services, Ltd„ Newcastle Corporation has applied for permission to bring charges into line on common sections of route.
Associated Motorways, Ltd., has now applied to the West Midland Licensing Authority for a 6-per-cent. increase in charges on express services.
Birkenhead Corporation has filed proposals to increase all single fares above 3d. by id. and to replace workmen's return tickets by single concession tickets. Other variations are suggested. Forty-four routes are -concerned, as well as five operated jointly with Wallasey Corporation.
Wallasey's Proposals Wallasey has itself proposed allround increases, including the addition of id. to all fares from 2d., which would also apply to the joint services. Fifteen services are concerned. Other joint operations affected are 29 services run by the Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., in the Birkenhead undertaking's area and two in the Wallasey area.
Thirteen undertakings have applied for permission to vary fares on over 50 services jointly operated with the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd. The North-western Licensing Authority will hear this company's application at Stockport on February 14 and 15.
The general increase in fares applied for by the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., will beconsidered by the East Midland Licensing Authority in Nottingham on February 29.
CONTINENTAL TOURS OFF IT is reported that Westbury Luxury /Coaches, Ltd.. Bristol, has decided to cancel its 1952 Continental-tour programme as a consequence of the reduction of the overseas spending allowance. There were to have been 61 departures from Bristol on seven different tours.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
lit AEETING last week, Luton Town IV1Council agreed to the proposal to employ a concern of industrial consultants, Urwick, Orr and Partners, Ltd., to investigate the operationof the corporation transport undertaking.
AT the annual dinner of the Yarmouth group of the Road Haulage Executive,. Mr. F. G.. Laird, group manager, gave his personal view that a quarter of the Executive's assets would be returned to private enterprise and that the 25-mile limit would be increased to 50 or 60 miles.
Mr. J. Hollis, district officer of the Transport and General Workers' Union, responded: "I would like Mr. Laird to know that the men who are running the industry at the moment. and are responsible for the profits of the industry, have decided on something else. They have decided that the Transport Act, 1947, is not to be tampereil with at all."
STROKE AGAINST VANDALS "DAGWOOD, a fireproof' material 1 manufactured by Messrs. G.B. Products, Sheffield, is to be fitted to the backs of the seat squab's of 12 new buses being built for Rotherham Transport Department. The department haS had to bear heavy repair costs because of malicious damage do fabric trimming.
• A high scratch resistant polish can be given to Pagwood, which" is a type of sandwich wood supplied in sheets in.
thick. It is of German origin. It is stated that it may also be used in future for body panelling.
TILLING TURNS ON THE HEAT
THE Tilling bus undertakings are to adopt Clayton Dewandre heating and demisting equipment for the Bristol underfloOr-thigined service buses and luxury coaches to be built for them this year.. Type V25 heaters and B6 demisters are the models to be incorporated in the bodies, which are to be built by Eastern Coach Works, Ltd.
DEFINITION SOUGHT
THE general secretary of the National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers has been asked to write to the Minister of Transport again to request that a deputation be received so that the definition of "ordinary furniture removal" in the Transport Act may be discussed.
NEW LOW-LOADER TYRE THE Firestone All Traction pattern tyre is now available in 27 by 6 size especially for municipal operators of low-loaders requiring tyres that will withstand running over rough surfaces. The tyre has heavy sidcwalls to resist cuts.
TROLLEYBUS BILL PROTEST
APROTEST against a new Parliamentary Bill promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne City Council has been made by Gosforth (Northumberland) Urban District Council. The Bill seeks powers to operate additional trolleybus services. Gosforth contests six points dealing with fares, new routes and road works.