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Ulster Bill Passes Second Reading

24th May 1935, Page 49
24th May 1935
Page 49
Page 49, 24th May 1935 — Ulster Bill Passes Second Reading
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

DESPITE the fact that the Ulster Road and Rail Transport Bill has aroused a fierce storm of protest, only four out of 30 votes were against the second reading of the Bill in the Ulster Parliament.

In moving the second reading, the Minister of Home Affairs (Rt. Hon. Sir R. Dawson Bates) emphatically denied that the Bill was promoted in the interests of the railways, or that it was 'being rushed through Parliament. Provisional agreements had been made between himself and the Belfast Omnibus Co„ Ltd., H. M. S. Catherwood, Ltd., Belfast, and the London Midland and Scottish, the Great Northern, and the Belfast and County Down Railways for the transfer of theme road services to the new Board. He was prepared to consider reasonable representations regarding the restrictions on farmers' vehicles carrying neighbours' goods.

The debate continued for three days. Mr. J. W. Nixon, who moved the rejection of the Bill, stated that the Minister of Home Affairs had confessed to the House that before the Bill was brought in 'he was negotiating with some of the big interested combines— proof that the Bill was drafted in con-, junction with the vested interests. The Bill stood condemned on its face, because it was only to the Minister of Home Affairs, who would set up the Board, that anyone who disagreed with its ruling could appeal,

Mr. Thomas Henderson, in seconding the rejection motion, said that the Government was bringing in the Bill to bolster up the railways.

It was mentioned during the debate that, whilst the railway and bus companies were in favour of the Bill, the public bodies in 'Northern Ireland, the Belfast and Londonderry Chambers of Commerce and all the farmers and farm labourers in Northern Ireland were against it.


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