BUSES OFF THE ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21028, 12 November 1931, Page 8

BUSES OFF THE ROAD.

INDIGNATION IN SYDNEY. MR. LANG'S REGULATIONS. REVOLT AGAINST DICTATOR. [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY. Nov. 5. The arstrary transport regulations that have taxed the buses off the road in the metropolitan area of Sydney constitute the biggest of the many bombshells that have hit the public since Mr. Lang and his Labour following returned to power. If there was one means of transport that has been a Godsend to the thousands who have gone to the outer suburbs in order to reach the open spaces and escape some of the high cost of living it was the private omnibus service. Every existing service has now come nnder the annihilating hand of authority, causing, not merely greater unemployment, but tremendous public inconvenience. A vast public enterprise which succeeded where the trams had failed, and which came into existence because the trams had failed, has been dislocated, with losses running into thousands of pounds. 'At least 450 buses are idle and more than 4000 men will be forced on to the dole. Mr. Lang's Broken Promise. The indignation of the public over the new regulations is ths first sign of open revolt against the high-handed actions of Mr. Lang, who is practically dictator. The regulations are bound to have an effect on the result of the next general election, for even if that election does not take place for two years, it will be found that the people have a good memory for some things, at least, particularly those matters which affect their pocket and their comfort. Although less than 24 hours' notice was given of a protest meeting in the Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday night, the vast building was crowded, and bitter epithets were hurled at, the Government and at the Transport Board. Neither has made the slightest effort to justify the regulations. The busmen who have lost their jobs have very definitely ranged themselves on the side of their employers. The latter have resisted all overtures that they should provide feeder buses for the trams, and the men declare that feeder buses will be declared black. Last week the men were assured by Mr. Lang, through the Transport Board, that they would not lose their jobs, but the promise to the busmen was like all the promises made by Mr. Lang; it was not. kept. Now the men have lost faith in their officials. Remarkable Demonstration. When a mass meeting of the Transport (Workers' Union was held, the union officials were hooted, and the bus proprietors, present by invitation, wildly cheered. It was one of the most remarkable demonstrations in the history of unionism. All efforts on the part of the men to see Mr. Lang have been unsuccessful. The Premier has been spending a vacation on his farm, 40 or 50 miles from Sydney, and public indignation means nothing to him. If he were to make a straightforward statement as to the reason for the regulations and of his plan for meeting public inconvenience he might do much to calm an irate public. One of the most amazing features of the controversy has been the refusal of the Transport Board to negotiate in any , way with the Omnibus Proprietors' Association. The chairman has expressed a willingness to discuss terms with individual owners, and from his attitude it is assumed that he hopes to break down the general opposition to the inauguration of feeder services to run just where and when the board might agree. Such services would not be subjected to the heavy taxation of Id per section per passenger, provided for in the new regulations, but they would not be permitted to run along any route .which would entail competition with either the trams or the trains. The owners say that feeder services could not be run at a profit and that it is. not fair to ask them to abandon profitable runs and substitute unprofitable ones merelv to help the board to " boost' rail and tram revenue. It is pointed out that buses have played an important part in the development of Sydney; that they have opened up wide areas as yet untouched by the tramway and railway system; that they are even more essential to-day than the trams.