Devon Fares Decision Rescinded
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IN a written decision, the Minister of Transport has rescinded the decision of the Western Traffic Commissioners in granting Devon General Omnibus and Touring Co. Ltd. and the City of Exeter transport department a variation of stage carriage fares.
Appealsagainst the decision were lodged by various local authorities in Devon, among them the County Council. Because of the serious nature of the complaint the Minister, in his decision, carefully considered the suggestion that remarks by the chairman of the Commissioners "conveyed the impression of a predisposition towards granting the company's application ". After careful study, the Minister does not accept this ground of appeal.
The Minister agrees with his inspector's conclusion that "some increase in fares is not unreasonable having regard to increasing costs; but it does not seem to me that the company has produced sufficient evidence to support the necessity for such an increase in the fares as would result in an increase in the return on their capital, bearing in mind the profits (over and above those anticipated) obtained in recent years. The increase in fares, to the extent proposed, cannot therefore, to my mind, be regarded as not unreason.; able."
The Minister has accordingly made an order on the Traffic Commissioners to have the fare scales adjusted to achieve the inspector's recommendation.