Bus Operations Affect Railway Interests in Co. Down.
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Probably in no county in Ireland is there as much motorbus traffic as in Co. Down. Since buses were first introduced into the country this county has been the cockpit of rail and road warfare, and the buses have fought a winning battle from the start, In view of this, it was not surprising that many reference i were made to road services when the Belfast and Co. Down Railway recently made application to the Irish Railway Wages Board for a
continuance of a 10 per cent, reduction in the wages and salaries of their staffs, which was granted from November last.
In the course of his evidence the manager of the company said that to meet bus competition it had been necessary to make several reductions In the ordinary passenger -fares, whitst seaso-Jticket rates and workmen's fares,. had been further reduced as from January of this year. Bus competition in Co. Down continued to be very acute. A number of bus companies had amalgamated and services were being maintained on all routes. In addition, a rate war was in proisrass in certain districts between rival bus companies, and this was most prejudicial to rail
way interests. During the year his company had_ to increase their train services in order to compete with road conveyances, and it had also been necessary to make reductions in goods rates.