Fifty years ago
THE LAWLESS action of the London bus-staffs in refusing to carry standing passengers stirred the House of Com- mons to considerable indignation on Monday, when a private-notice question to the Ministry of Transport on the sub- ject produced a volley of supplemen- taries. Mr. Barnes had little comfort to give, and the feeling is strong that com- pletely unauthorised and grossly selfish action, imposing serious hardship on the general public, ought to be firmly dealt with by someone. So far no one seems to be dealing with it at all. The employ- ees, as usual, are defying their union. The police appear to be powerless. The London Passenger Transport Board, who are accused by the employees of creating congestion by keeping buses off the road when there are plenty of buses available, have failed so far to issue the plain statement that is clearly called for. Irritating and worse in itself, the affair is another disturbing example of conduct which may no doubt be partly the result of war-strain, but shows a deplorable indifference to other people's comfort.
The Spectator 9 November 1945
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