Glasgow May Call for State Aid
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ACRITICAL financial position arising in Glasgow Transport Department because of rising costs of materials was reported, last week, to the transport committee. A proposal to call on the Government for relief was debated.
The convener, Cllr. L. S. Blanche, who stated after the meeting that prices "had got completely out of control," proposed a motion strongly protesting to the Government against the Budget increase of 41d. a gallon in the price of fuel and asking for its withdrawal.
He also moved a request to the Government to call immediately a conference of all municipal and company passenger transport undertakings throughout the country with a view to preventing further increases in costs, and considering ways of cutting expenses, "thus avoiding the necessity of again increasing fares."
A22 The motion sited that in the past two years the Government's policy had increased the running costs of the Glasgow undertaking by more than £800,000, and that the further tax of 44d. a gallon on fuel would increase the department's costs by an additional £55.000 a year.
The convener's motion was carried by 10 votes to six. The Labour minority exercised its right to have the recommendation placed before the corporation for final decision. The general finance committee has appointed a sub-committee to confer with the transport committee. This sub-committee and a sub-committee of the transport committee will consider the financial position and the staffing situation. Recruitment was stated not to be overtaking the number leaving the department's service.