SEEKING A SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18667, 25 March 1924, Page 7

SEEKING A SETTLEMENT.

TEAM AND BUS STRIKE.

LONDON TRAFFIC PROBLEM.,

PROCEEDINGS AT INQUIRY.

By Telegraph Press Association—Copyright

(Received 10.15 p.m.)

Renter.

LONDON. Mar. 23.

The co-ordination of London's transport facilities was suggested at the Government Court of Inquiry into the busmen's and tramwaymen'6 strike, as being the only way out of the present difficulties. The latter are attributed to -wasteful competition under the present system. Mr. E. Bevan, secretary of the Transport Workers' Union, said he was of the opinion that the increase in wages of 8s a week, which the tramwaymen were demanding, could be granted if traffic control were adopted. Mr. Pick, of the London General Omnibus Company, stated that owing to private omnibuses competing with - the trams in the suburbs the company had been compelled to lower the fares on their buses on the same routes. The result was that there were three services where one would be adequate. Some means of public control of traffic appeared to be the only remedy that would enable the tramway companies to pay increases in wages.

Lord Ashfield, managing director of the London General Omnibus Company, replying to Mr. Bevan, also expressed the opinion that the only remedy would be complete co-ordination of the transport facilities of London under a traffic authority, only such fares to be charged as would enable the payment of good wages.