19 Councils Drop Fare Appeal
Page 38
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE appeal by 19 local authorities in the north-east against fare increases granted to United Automobile Services, Ltd., was withdrawn at Darlington. last Friday, when the Ministry of Transport inspector, Sir Maurice Holmes, ruled certain evidence inadmissible.
For the authorities, Mr. Norman Harper sought to introduce a document which, he alleged, would show that a less than average surplus trading profit enjoyed by United in 1956 was connected with their allowance for depreciation.
He said an application for fare increases had become' an annual event for U.A.S. In the past four years increases had been granted, and in each case there had been a surplus over the estimate of the extra revenue they would bring in. Only in 1956 had the surplus appeared as much smaller.
United had consistently made substantial profits averaging £437,470 a year since 1949, and his clients, including Durham County Council, had now combined on behalf of the fare-paying public.
For United, Mr. M. Holmes, said the authorities had an opportunity, to bring any new evidence before the Commissioners on September 3, and Mr. Harper was trying to produce inadmissible new evidence.
Sir Maurice ruled that this was correct, and Mr. Harper said he would not pursue the appeal.