T.U.C. Condemns Transport Bill
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A COMPOSITE resolution against
the Government's transport proposals was carried unanimously at the Trades Union Congress at Margate, last week. It declared that the Transport Bill was based on class interests and that its measures were contrary to. the findings of Royal Commissions and investigating committees set up by previous Conservative Governments.
The resolution regarded denationalization as evidence of a capitulation to Kivate vested interests; which would be a wilful sacrifice of social assets so recently co-ordinated at public expense. A State-owned transport system was essential for the country's economy to ensure a satisfactory service for the trading and travelling public, and to provide reasonable working conditions.
The Bill was to be opposed by all legitimate means, and Labour's undertaking to reverse its provisions was welcomed. The resolution was moved by the National Union of Railwaymen, seconded by the Transport Salaried
Staffs Association, and supported by the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. Mr. J. B. Figgins, general secretary of the N.U.R., said that the object of the Bill was to restore transport to private enterprise now that it had achieved some success.
Mr. J. G. Baty, general secretary of the A.S.L.E.F., said that the previous Labour Government had been too generous in compensating transportshareholders and had saddled the British Transport Commission with a heavy liability. Mr. Figgins referred to the Commission's revenue surplus of £165m. in four years, and said that it was only after payntent of compensation and other charges that there was a. deficit of £25.9m.
The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., proposes to capitalize £2,160,000 by issuing three fully paid 11 ordinary shares for every two shares held on September 23.