PRIMA FACIE CASE FOR INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 190, 8 May 1937, Page 11

PRIMA FACIE CASE FOR INQUIRY

Men’s Claim in Bus Strike COURTS INTERIM REPORT TO MINISTER (British Official Wireless.) Rugby. May C. The court of inquiry into the central London bus strike was concluded this morning, and a long interim report was in the hands of the Minister of Labour, Mr Ernest Brown, this afternoon. Thy court expresses the opinion that some of the time schedules .introduced since the 1932 agreement between the London Transport Board _ and the men's union, while strictly in accoid with its terms, operate somewhat onerously upon the men and are not such as could have been accurately foreseen by the parties at the time. 'Regarding the men’s claim for a 71hour day, the report states that the members of the court regarded the evidence placed before them as inconclusive. Nevertheless, they were of opinion that a prima facie case had been made out for a further investigation bv a properly qualified body, specially constituted, to deal forthwith with this important matter. Complaints of Injury to Health. Should such body find that the complaints as to injury to health made on behalf of the men were substantiated, then immediate and appropriate steps should be taken either by a reduction of hours or by such other measures as might be agreed on to meet the position. The court recognised that any recommendation under this head must place increased liabilities on the board, but should satisfactory proof of the need for a remedy be forthcoming they thought the board would be assured of the goodwill of the public when budgeting for any extra cost involved. Mr. Brown has forwarded the report to the two parties for their consideration and has invited them to attend a meeting at the Ministry to-morrow. In informing the House of Commons of these developments, Mr. Brown expressed the hope that consideration of the court’s findings would proceed in the spirit of the Prime Minister’s appeal yesterday for industrial conciliation on the eve of t-he Coronation.