Wave of Assaults on Platform Staff.
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A'explosive situation is reported to be'developing in .cianiequenee of what appears to be a seasonal rise in the number of attacks on bus conductors. In many areas there is fear that the position will worsen as the festive season draws near. Apart from being unnerving for the men concerned the assaults appear to be assuming a more serious character. In the north of England last week one conductor was taken to hospital with stab wounds. On the same night, attacks were also reported in Belfast,
A fortnight ago Belfast Corporation Transport department officials were following up the case of a conductor who was taken to hospital after being attacked at the Ard•oyne depot, As his bus was full he had refused to take on a passenger on the Crumlin Road route. The man hired a car which took him to the Ardoyne depot where he is alleged to have assaulted the conductor concerned.
Departmental officials in Belfast have asked for extra police attention to latenight turns in known trouble areas and have also instituted their -own road patrols. On the other side of the Irish Sea some undertakings are known to have asked for police co-operation in the matter whilst others have put extra inspectors on late duty.
A good deal of apprehension on the part of conductors has been revealed clurMg inquiries in various parts of the country. One of them suggested that the punishments inflicted (" if that is the right word "), by the courts, were not nearly severe enough. A disturbing feature of the outbreak is that other passengers rarely seem to go to a conductor's assistance, Union branches in certain districts are stated to be seriously concerned over the position.
Every man to whom I have spoken, writes a special correspondent, was strongly in favour of on-the-spot action, all of them believing that the " publicenemy " types can only be deterred by a show of force. There has been talk of men on late taints having plans for being accompanied by friends who are Judo exponents or by dog-handlers and their charges.
Certain managements are understood to be devoting considerable thought to the situation that might arise during the coming month, It is appreciated that control of the number of passengers carried by the modern double-decker presents special problems for the conductor. For this reason the suggestion has been made that after 10 p.m. a supernumerary conductor should be carried and extra fares charged.