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148 
The Independent Omnibus Proprietors Dine
Page 68
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THEninth annual dinner and dance of the Association of London Omnibus Proprietors, Ltd., was held last Monday at the Holborn Restaurant, Mr. A. G. Partridge, the president of the association, being in the chair. There were some 500 members and guests present, and the prevailing spirit was one of cheerfulness, for last year's function was expected to be the final, but the sword of Damocles, in the shape of the London Passenger Transport Bill, has
not yet fallen. Now, members and others are hoping that next year will see yet another celebration of the association's existence.
After the loyal toast, the first speaker was Mr. W. A. Clarke„ who proposed "The Chairman and the Association." Mr. Partridge, in his reply, said that he was afraid that the London Passenger Transport Bill would soon become law, in which case the independent buses would be driven to some strange building and come out in hideous vermilion red, symbolic of fire and utter destruction—the destruction of the principles that the independent owners had worked for and lived for, All they would receive would be a sum of money to salve their wounded pride. Business life is meat and drink to those who are in it, but they, were going to be deprived of all this, although their only crime was trying to do their job as well as the other fellow, without flouting the law. Mr. Herbert Morrison had thought that he could change people's nature by Act of Parliament, and by leading red buses into the promised land of monopoly. The £40,000 which had been spent on the Bill was a drop in the ocean as compared with the cost if it becomes law.
The traffic problem was really so much spoof. The public cannot understand why the transport industry, both on the goods and passenger sides, which employs twice as many men and double
as much money as the railways, is deliberately picked out, taxed and exploited. During a crisis in the history of this country the independent bus owners had found profitable employment for many of their countrymen and it will have taken all the might and majesty of the British Empise to remove them from the streets. The day would come when the nation would welcome the independent newspaper, the independent bus owner, etc.
Following this, opportunity was taken for making a presentation to Mrs. Partridge.
The toast of "The Ladies and Visitors" was given by Mr. G. W. King, and was responded to by a lady bus proprietor, Mrs. B. Pinch.
In the absence of Captain Evans, M.P., the reply was made by Mr. P. B. Showell in a very able and humorous speech. He remarked that this was the most virile "dying" association which he had ever known.