Government Repay U.T.A. £2.3m. 'Loan
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THE Northern 'Ireland Government have repaid bank advances of £2.3m. made to the Ulster Transport Authority. The sums were due for payment at the end of September, but as the Authority was unable to find them, the Ministry of Finance, as guarantor, had to do so.
There is now much speculation about the Government's attitude to the U.T.A.'s finances, according to a Northern Ireland correspondent. There lS no prospect of the undertaking being able to clear the debt, and the question whether it will be written off is posed.
The Government have already liquidated £1.5m. of the Authority's capital debt, and it is the view in some quarters that all the undertaking's debts should be paid off and the Authority be given a further opportunity to stand on its own feet.
RISE FOR ULSTER HAULAGE MEN
THE Road Haulage Wages Council have recommended a wage increase of 5s. 6d. a week for road transport workers in Northern Ireland, About 10,000 men will benefit. The increase will become operative in six weeks' time if there are no objections. it does not apply to workers employed by the Ulster Transport Authority.
Another proposal of the council is that working hours of drivers and mates in the area outside Londonderry. and beyond a 15-mile radius of Belfast, should be reduced from 46 to 44. This would bring about a uniform working week throughout the province, FARES, PROTEST AT INQUIRY 6 L'XTORTIONATE " fares had been introduced by the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., on their route across the Neath river bridge, said Mr. A. T. Davies, for Swansea Corporation, at an appeal hearing in Swansea, on Monday. If the corporation's protest against them were not allowed, the South Wales Traffic Commissioners would be perpetuating a "most outrageous anomaly."
The new road across the bridge cut travelling time between Swansea and Port Talbot by 20 minutes and, although the distance was six miles less than along the other main road, fares on both routes were the same.