- Details
- Category: Labor Branch History
Mercury, Saturday 30 April 1949, page 6
MR. GRAY, M.H.A., last night charged the Transport Commission with not doing its job properly, and alleged that it was "hoodwinking" the Government.
HE addressed more than 150 persons at a public meeting in the Lutana Hall called to protest against the overcrowding of Transport Commission buses on the Grove Rd. route.
The meeting called on Messrs. Gray, Wright, and Jackson, M*s.H.A., and Sir Rupert Shoobridge, M.L.C.. to explain "why they voted for continued overcrowding" by opposing an item in the Public Works Execution Bill to provide £12,000 for the purchase of three new buses for the Transport Commission.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister-for Lands and Works (Mr. Reece) and the president of the Prince of Wales Bay-Lutana branch of the A.L.P. (Mr. E. R. Cullen) explained why the meeting had been called.
Other members of Parliament present included Messrs. Wright, Jackson, Gray, Hand, Neilson, and Wedd, M's.H.A., Sir Rupert Shoobridge, and Messrs. D'Alton and Connolly, M's.L.C.
Mr. Cullen said deputations had asked the Commissioner for Transport (Mr. Wilson) for more buses to relieve overcrowding on the Grove Rd. route, but had been told that no consideration could be given the matter because the commission did not have buses to put on.
Mr. Gray said that on Wednesday, Thursday, and yesterday at least 12 buses were parked in Collins St. --- buses which could have been used on the Grove Rd. route if the commission was doing its job.
"Go to the Transport Commission with a deputation from the branch and demand they put the buses on this service immediately," he stated.
Voice: We already have been there.
Mr. Gray: They have hoodwinked you too.
Mr. Gray said a person could go to the commission any day and book a bus to go to any part of the State.
Sir Rupert Shoobridge said he voted against the item because he was not prepared to vote for anything for the commission until the report of the Select Committee on Transport had been received.
Mr. Wright said the meeting was to have been a protest meeting by the people of Lutana, and he resented an opportunity being taken by political opponents to lash up feeling upon a matter which should be discussed sensibly.
At this stage interjections were so numerous that Mr. Reece had to call the meeting to order.
The meeting agreed to the following motions:
This public meeting of Lutana district citizens strongly protests against all those persons of both Houses of Parliament, who opposed additional buses for existing road services, and commends the Government for its policy with respect to road transport services.
This meeting of Lutana citizens strongly condemns the action of the Legislative Council in rejecting additional Transport Commission buses, and it opposes the continuance of this undemocratically elected body.
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Labor Branch History
The Australian Labor Party has a long connection with the Hall - from running meeting, social and fundrasing events and operating a branch from the Hall.