Ceylon's Take-over Plans Unpopular
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A R.CIUMENT is still rife in Ceylon
over the Government's intention to nationalize bus services. It is proposed to take over the operators on one day —maybe in January next year—but to assume management in stages. It is. however, possible that the Senate might throw out the nationalization' bill.
If this happens, the Government (who are in a minority in the Senate) may prorogue Parliament and refer the Bill to the Senate f..r a second time, after passing it through the Lower House. Even if the Senate reject the Bill again. it will become law.
Companies operating in Colombo will be taken over first and no compen sation will be paid. Operators have expressed unwillingness to continue to manage their companies after the date of take-over until the Government assume actual. direction. .
The companies have suggested that as an alternative to nationalization. public corporations should be formed, upon. the boards of which Government representatives would sit, SuPport for this idea has come from the Ministerof. Posts and Broadcasting, who has Criticized the plans of his colleague, the Minister of Transport
WASTED DAY FOR 141R. HANLON
THE last-minute withdrawal of the only application at last week's sitting in VVhitehaven, Cumberland, of Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, Northern-Licensing Authority, drew his comments.
Mr. H. A., Walker, representing Mr. Gordon Hutchinson, furniture remover and general haulier, New. Lowther Street, • Whitehaven, told Mr.. Hanlon that only a few minutes before the sitting he had been instructed to withdraw the application, Remarking that it was "most unfortunate," Mr. Hanlon said: "Public money would have been saved if the applicant had made up his mind sooner. A long and tedious journey for myself and my staff would have been avoided, and the time of British Railways' officials and the representatives of Messrs. J. Rodgers and Son and 3. A. Pickthall and Sons—objecting hauliers —would have been saved. I fixed the hearing here simply for the convenience of this applicant.
"The Act does not give me any authority to -award costs against him, otherwise I should not have hesitated about making this man pay them. He is guilty of gross discourtesy to the court and to you, Mr. Walker."
Wm. FROM ROAD FUND
THE last statement of the Road Fund, which was abolished on April 1 last year, shows that in the year to March 31, £45,464,309 was paid out. Of this sum, £28,456,930 went to highway authorities for the maintenance of classified reads, improvements, new construction and so on, and f15,422,890 was for work on trunk roads.