TRANSPORT BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 47, 24 August 1931, Page 9

TRANSPORT BILL

A.S.R.S. SUPPORT "CHAOTIC COMPETITION'V At a, meeting of the Thprndon brancli of the Amalgamated Society of-Rail: way Servants, held yesterday, the general secretary (Mr. L. M'llvride) explained at length; the provisions contained in the Transport' Licensing Bill, and1 dealt! in detail- with' /objections tL.:t had !been,made to the Bili by advocates, of district control, Mr.- M'llvride contended-, that as the scheme contained in the Bill was a national onej the licensing authority also should.be national in character. The;. ; railways were 'not- asking for peci'al treatment, nor should any other section of the transport industry; but it was urged by the railway employees, that matters should be placed -on a fair 'basis; so that there would be- regulation,; co-oi> dination, and.co-operalion, and the.^elimination, of the.diastrous cut-throat com?, petition; and wasteful duplicatioii' that >vas at present costing the :cOuntry millions. For the foregoing treasons, he said, the principle of national control contained in. the Bill was worthy of support. ..•: ;'i-y,'■'..• -:■:,■:.-.. ■.:-.■''''. During the long discussion that followed, members of the branch were' unanimous ia the .expression of "the .belief .that the Bill was long overdue, and should ■'. have!: been given effect^ to at least seven or eight'years ago, when the AlS.R.S.'first urged, that that should be' done. The hoi ding-up .of ; the Bili previously, it was ; contended, .was a. reprehensible action oa^;h,e hparfc .'!'6f menibei'S/. of Pariiament responsible for it,1 and. the attitude -of some, members in favouring .district control, in a national scheme.was whole-heartedly con;, demned.. .The point was stressed that Professor Murphy, an eminent; economistj ...f'svho. had no votes, to, snatch or axes- to -grind," -had,!.expressed himself in~-faVouriOf'.camplete;:uational:.'Cont.roli jtwas further urged that situation ;waa'-s"o"''critical; '. a.nd conditions shadcbel eoineso chaotie,:that, unless something >h;£he nature of hatipnal^'egulationand control of the Dominion's transport in,-, dustry :was> brought ■ about without' de<r lay}'- the result would be disastrous-; to' the; country as a whole, and^j'more pair .ticularly, to the' workers" en gaged iti the transport :■ industry.?' The railway etui ployeesVlooked.'to Parliament-to:;d6 the right- thing, and, support .the principle of national, control -contained-., in ■ the BiU;-without reservation. ■'-'■ ■""' '• v , As a'result of, the discussion the following motion was drafted, • and on being put; to the meeting was' carried unanimously:-— ■:• ' ;;'. '. ' "That,'inasmuch as,the.present- con; ditions",'■ in,, the transport industry involve great national waste ■ and 'give rise to sweating 'd'f. a !yery, gross character^ 'the 'members of! this branch of : the;A'.S.R.S.. . res.olye ■ that! steps to rationalise, .thp, trajispbi't industry and bring it onto sound and' proper "industrial basis are, urgently necessary in'the interests oi the Dominion'as a whole. "That continuance of the 'present, chaotic competition is serious, jeopardising the welfare of thousands of transport workers, or endangering the lives of the trayelling public, ana hastening the disintegration of the, transport industry. ." ■:• . ' " "_. '-".- "Therefore the; members of this branch .are firmly and; emphatically of opinion that;, as the; .Transport Bijl proT'ides niachincry: which., is 'essential to enable the situation to be dealt with speedily and effectively, the principle' of national control contained .in the Bill is worthy of the whole-.hearted, support of all who have the true interests of the country at; heart.?'- ■ !