WAR ON ’BUSES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11470, 26 October 1931, Page 5

WAR ON ’BUSES

4000 MEN TO BE SACKED IN' Sydney V SEQUEL TO NEW TAXES (U.P.A. bv Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Oct. 25. 5.5 pm..) , SYDNEY, Oct. 25. The Transport Trust, invoking ptowers of recent legislation, ha. 3 bombshelled motor-bus interests, who have notified, four thousand employees—drivers, conductors, garage workers, and members of office staffs —that they will not "be required after October 31. This is the result of regulations under which bus licenses shall include a provision for the payment to the Government of one penny per section for adult passengers, and one halfpenny for children. On a sixpenny run, the Government would take five pence of an adult’s fare and, in the case of a child, the bus would receive nothing. If the metropolitan bus ..services stop, as is threatened, a large portion of the population will be in-, convenieneed. The buses at present are carrying one hundred millions annually and the companies distribute £1,250,000 in wages and material. The Federal Government also would lose £150,000 . per annum in petrol tax on a consumption of over 600 buses.