ROAD ACCIDENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 662, 16 January 1933, Page 7

ROAD ACCIDENTS.

Heavy Burden Placed on Hospitals. (Special to the “ Star.”} LONDON, December 6. The heavy burden placed on hospitals by road accidents was emphasised in the House of Commons last night bv Dr O’Donovan, of Harley Street, who won Mile End (Stepney) for the Tories at the general election. Before the House was the London Transport Bill, which proposes to bring London passenger services under single ownership and control. Dr O’Donovan moved an amendment to the effect that the board should make a contribution to hospitals for the _ treatment of people injured by vehicles under their control. Voluntary hospitals, he said, received only about 10 per cent of their outlay on road accidents. A “thorough-going first-class accident ” might cost a hospital between £l3O and £l5O, and wards which should be devoted to the sick were to be seen “ filled with forests of masts suspending fractured limbs.” Humanity was surviving the growth of traffic, but its survival was a costly process. The Government declined to accept the amendment, and pointed out that the board could continue the practice now followed by the separate transport companies of making voluntary contributions. Dr O’Donovan withdrew his amendment. Higher Fares Feared. Fears were expressed that the elimination of competition, brought about by the Bill, would lead to decreased facilities or increased fares, or both. Sir William Ray (Con., Richmond) said that London had the cheapest transport system in the world because of the competition of trams with buses, and the buses with independent buses. From the date of the inception of the Transport Board all that came to an end. There was no guarantee that the advantages London now enjoyed—the 2d midday fare, the Is all day fare, the good facilities and accommodation, 1 would be retained. It was regrettable that no such provision was embodied in the Bill. Sir Henry Cautley (Con., East Grinstead) argued that the Bill might lead to increased fares in the area covered by the Metropolitan Railway, which had been forced, he said, to come into the scheme at the point of the pistol. The debate was adjourned.