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StoRodgers from busmen
Page 37
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REASED subsidies for lic transport, a fares freeze an end to the "nonsense" that public transport is le only when it is able to nee its own books, his is what Britain needs v, according to the leaders the passenger transport ons.
'hey were speaking at a re Our Services (SOS) mass eting in Westminster's ntral Hall last week. An hence of about 700 turned representing bus and way staff and members of nsport consumer groups.
fterwards the delegates ra to the Houses of Parliant to lobby MPs.
SOS delegation which luded Transport and Gene-. Workers Union leader Jack Les, met Secretary of State Transport William Rodgers a 15-minute discussion on alic transport.
.nger over Government s already made in public nsport grants. and frustrai and pessimism about the thcoming White Paper on Lnsport were common mes throughout the meet 'We are seeking to influenthe Government's planning the Transport White Paper that public transport ,sn't get any worse, but tead gets much better" was w GLC transport committee tirman and chairman of the S campaign Jim Daly spelt 'A White Paper that emer; without regard for the rter ideas on energy convation will be like a tribute the Stone Age. It must be a lical, far-sighted plan."
_.ater, to a loud round of )Iause from representatives London Transport staff, he )lained what was necessary services in London and elsewhere.
"We have to purchase more vehicles, more workshops, extend the Underground and improve the quality of the service offered to the public," he said.
"We must consign to the rubbish heap once and for all the idea that public transport must balance its own books to survive — it is nonsense and ought to cease now," he declared.
Control
It was not only the men and women from the various branches of public transport who should have been in the audience, said Mr Jones.
"The people who should be here are the housewives," he said.
"We are fed up to death with increasing prices week after week. I am sure it is not beyond the wit of man to find a way of controlling prices.
"In some areas fares have risen 60 per cent in 12 months, and increasing costs means less services. Further cuts in the remaining services will mean the destruction of public transport."
Referring to the South Yorkshire County Council's stand to keep fares low, he said he admired such a policy.
"There should have been award on award for public service and common sense in among the export awards announced today (Queen's Awards), and that award should have gone to the South Yorkshire County Council.
"They made a policy decision to keep fares down and make a contribution towards keeping the cost of living down. So they contained the subsidy within the level laid down by the Secretary of State.
"Instead of encouraging them, the Government reduced the transport supplementary grant by £5 million and gave a severe rebuke for keeping those fares down." During the meeting with the Minister, Mr Jones said the' case for increased subsidies was put "most strongly".
Light
"We told him we wanted a fares freeze, and a change in Labour policy towards public transport. I told him how I felt about South Yorkshire and he seemed to accept it sympathetically."
Asked whether he thought it likely the Govenment would change its attitude to public transport, he replied: "There is a chink of light there. Mr Rodgers listened to what we had to say, and I think this campaign will have impact on the Government's way of thinking."