SYDNEY'S TRAFFIC.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 5 February 1927, Page 10

SYDNEY'S TRAFFIC.

♦- — A NEW BOARD. CONTROL OF MOTOR BUSES. (FROM OCR OWS CORRESPOSSUEST.) SYDNEY, January 27. The far-reaching Transport Bill, now before Parliament, and which will practically revolutionise tho control of traffic in Sydney, has caused quite a stir. Motorists, who have already been protesting loudly but in vain against the niching of the funds raised for the main roads, now tear that they aro going to have their freedom curtailed under this new measure. One. provision of the Bill, however, which is generally welcomed, is that which will riiake drunken drivers of motor vehicles liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month. Not a few in the coir.i.iiinity think that the term ought to be a little longer. The provisions of the Uill, which have aroused criticism, are those authorising the appointment of a Transport Hoard, consisting of the Railway Commissioners, who will bo empowered to operate motor-buses in competition wim 'iiivnteiy-owned services, to require the insurance of passengers in public vehicles, and tc control general traffic. The Rill is interpreted as an attempt on the part of the Government to wipe out the private b'.fftes. The proposal to invest the Railway Commissioners with the rolo cf a Thansport hoard, with the control generally of traffic, i.s regarded as absurd. The position in some respects 1j Ollbertian. l'nder the new Railway Ciil, tiio wi:iq£ of the Railway Commissioner* arc to he clipped. One at lea-t of them mirrlit even lose his job. l'nder the Transport Bill, or the contrary, the Commissioners who are so unpopular with the Party in office, are to he given additional power to control ire-h matter", ami to handle traffic problem; of which thev rrnhably Know little, finer their job is to manage the rr.ilwnvs -mul tT.:rwavs. Tho F.encra! fear >'< <!'■■« P n ' ire nre 1 ic l le e •rivpn a Wlc "'. the control of treffir- Tho Rai'wav Oommiss'rmers will thev »rr t"> have the dual fa'k "■ s*cintr' that tho railwavs and trnmwnys pnv their wav. and of coping with Sydney's colossal traffic problems.