BUS THREAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24011, 8 July 1941, Page 6

BUS THREAT

UNION'S DECISION ,

NO SERVICE TO-NIGHT

REPLY TO MINISTER

DIFFERENCES AMONG MEN

No buses will run in Auckland tonight after seven o'clock, unless either the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, or the Auckland Drivers' Union is prepared to give way concerning the motor vehicle lighting restrictions. The expectation last night was that people depending on buses for transport would have to find an alternative means of travel to-night. The Minister ruled yesterday that, subject to a speed limit of 25 miles an hour on certain bus routes, the lighting restrictions must be observed by all road-users, including bus drivers, from to-night. The reply of the secretary of the union, Mr. L. G. Matthews, was that buses would not run after seven o'clock to-night.

Appeal by Mr. Semple When the secretary's statement was conveyed to Mr. Semple in Christchurch last night, he said that, having issued instruction? that the lighting restrictions must be obeyed, and having made an appeal to Auckland bus drivers to see that they are obeyed, he had meantime nothing to add. Mr. Semple said earlier that drivers who disobeyed the restrictions would be prosecuted. He added that trial runs under the conditions prescribed by the regulations had been made last week, and officers of the Transport Department had reported that tho enforcement of the regulations would be safe on all routes if speed were reduced on some of them.

An appeal to drivers to carry on under tlie regulations in the interests of passengers and of the country's war effort was made by Mr. Semple. He said that if experience showed that amendments to the regulations were necessary the Government would be prepared to consider representations. A promise of police protection in the event of there being any interference with drivers who might decide to carry on in compliance with the Minister's wishes, and in defiance of the union's ruling, was sought at police headquarters in Auckland yesterday. An assurance was given that any necessary protection would be provided.

Rift in Union Ranks Signs of a definite split in the union, with a growing section of bus-driver members in disagreement with the union's decision, became more pronounced yesterday. It was freely stated that many drivers were prepared to ignore the union's decision and the secretary's statements and go on the road to-night with reduced lights. However, some drivers stated that, while they completely disagreed with the union's ruling, they were reluctantly obliged to abide by it, in view of the possibility of future repercussions if they did not, and in this view they had their employers' support.

The official attitude of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Omnibus Proprietors' Association was stated by the vice-president of the Dominion organisation, Mr. N. B. Spencer. He said advice had been received from the Minister that the buses could carry on last night with two dipped headlamps, but that from to-night the law must be complied with. The union secretary had also given formal advice that drivers would not go on the road after seven o'clock to-night.

Buses Would be Ready "We are going to comply with the Minister's instructions," Mr. Spencer added. He said the buses would be ready to run to-night, with the correct lighting according to the regulations and, if the drivers would not operate them, the proprietors could not help it. Inconvenience likely to be caused to shift workers in the Penrose industrial area in the event of there being no buses was mentioned by Mr. Spencer. He said that one company carried many such workers to Penrose at 11 o'clock at night, and he did not know what they would do if there were no buses. The restrictions have been operative in Auckland now for a full week, but the majority of buses have continued to break them. Some companies changed the lights of their buses at the outset and their drivers have been working us usual and maintaining schedules, but in the main, buses have continued to use more lights than private motorists, without a union to threaten a strike on their behalf, have been able to do.