Notes from Northern Ireland.
Page 66
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By Ulsterman..
Fourpence for What?
MHE fact that the petrol tax • has been already
applied to Northern Ireland, whilst the scheme for the reliet, of agriculture and industry has not yet been made applicable to this part of the United Kingdom has caused Ulster motorists to ask for what purposes they are paying their fourpences. It is stated that some arrangement will, doubtless, be come to, but the paying of piles of pennies for problematical pigs in pokes does not appeal to the hard-headed motorists of Northern Ireland.
Rise in Bus Fares.
As a direct result of Mr. Churchill's far-flung boomerang the bus-users of Northern Ireland have been dealt a blow in the region of the pocket. That this was inevitable is proved by the fact that, after allowing 12,000 for the licence concession on pneumatictyred buses, a total increase of taxation amounting to £16,000 per annum will have to be paid by the Belfast Omnibus Co. This form of " relief" for the agricultural and industrial workers of Northern Ireland is regarded as a British " bull " that can give points to the best Irish specimens.
A New Menace to Buses.
It used -to he said that "The Skibbereen Eagle has its eye on the Government." This journalistic menace to the British Empire has now, happily, passed away ; but the recently created Borough of Bangor, in the
County of Down, has hopped on to the Eagle's" perch and has fastened its eagle eye upon motor road traffic. The borough council has accordingly proposed to charge all motorbuses an annual rent of £5 for the privilege of standing on the public streets of Bangor. If the Ministry of Home Affairs should sanction this preposterous levy upon the vehicles which contribute so largely tothe prosperity of Bangor, other local authorities throughout Ulster will make haste to adopt so attractive a device for the collection of revenue. The Ulster Motor Coach Owners Association has been in vigorous communication with the Bangor Council on this subject, and if negotiations fail, it is hoped that the departmental inquiry will put an end to this development of rack-renting landlordism.
"Wouldn't do Such a Thing."
The Ulster Roads Improvement Bill, providing inter alia that county councils shall have power to close, without notice, third-class public roads against public motor vehicles, has now reached the Statute Book, with an oral promise from the Minister of Home Affairs that his department will refuse to sanction any unwarrantable .closing of such roads. The value of this pledge is said to be greatly enhanced by the fact that the Government, with its eye on the approaching General Election and with the knowledge that fair play for motor road traffic has become an electoral Issue, is not likely to stir up large nests of bus-using hornets in every part of the six counties.