Bus Fares -the Fight Is on

> Peoples Democracy 88 Ladybrook Pk Belfast Subscrption 50/- per year As predicted in last week's Free Citizen the Belfast Corporation faced tremendous’ opposition when they introduced their increased fares and cut services on Monday.

In spite of the bad weather a great many people boycotted the buses altogether , while others used them but temporarily withheld their fares. As a result of the boycott most passengers have not even realised that services have been reduced.

The first day of the new fares coincided with the November meeting of the City Council and saw one of the largest demonstrations Belfast has witnessed for some time. The Peoples Democracy had anounced two meetings; one for two o'clock at the City Hall, and another at Castle Junction at five o'clock. speeches Many organisations voiced their support , and those who attended included striking construction workers from I1.C.I. at Kilroot, members of the Falls and Newtownabbey Labour parties, the Communist party, various trade unionists and representatives from the tenants associations. There were so many people there when the loudspeaker car arrived-at 1.30pm the meeting was started immediately.. Representatives from all the organisations present were invited to speak and speeches were followed by a few circuits of the flower beds in the City Hall grounds, followed in turn by more speeches. All the speakers were well received by the good-humoured crowd, and the marches were large and noisy. Chants of ''Two-four-sixeight - Put the buses on the rate” could be heard as far away as the Bank Buildings. A demonstration at the Transport Departments Information Kiosk was suggested and a large section of the audience took off for an improntu march down the middle of Donegall Place. At Castle Junction they crossed and re-crossed the road with the result that cars were held up and a traffic jam started. After about twenty minutes the demonstrators regrouped and marched back to the City Hall. There, after more speeches they marched round the City Hall a couple of times. A small group stopped at the back gate, and their presence ther® prevented Councillor Quinton O'Hara from driving out in his Rover 33 Litre. However as the porter refused to open the gate a number of housewives and some children were trapped inside. A deal was made between the protesters and the porter. They would step back and clear a passage and would not rush the gates, and he would open one of them and let the women and children out. However, as soon as the women were through, printed and published weekly by the smart-alec James Stewart, Alderman for St. Annes and resident of Lisburn, jumped in behind them and thought he would slip through on their skirt tails. The porter realising this was not part of the bargain started to close the gate, but Sneaky Jim squeezed through in spite of his large size. At this point the demonstrators surged forward, and the good Alderman laid into several people with a large envelope full of books. One demonstrator had his glasses broken and a lady was knocked to the ground. The police, of course, took no action; an ordinary worker would have earned a six month jail sentence. Nevertheless, proceedings for assault will be taken against the Alderman.

Meanwhile round at the front it had been anounced that the Council would refuse to allow in evena deputation. This decision was taken on the Lord Mayor's casting vote after a tie. It so angered the crowd that some of them stormed the gates trying to get in. At this point five _ were arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour (some were members of the public, not P.D. members. They will appear at the Petty Sessions Court on Monday. Members of public are invited to attend and give them support.). But not until many had been attacked by the police (prominent among those using the boot was Constable No.1507). promises The meeting continued until just after five when another march was staged back to Castle Junction. A meeting had been planned for there, but because of the traffic jam the car with the loudspeakers could not get there from the City Hall. The demonstration, which started strongly at lunchtime and then dwindled to a few hundred, now numbered about one thousand. Because of superior numbers, the police were forced to conceed a ten minute march round and round the cross roads. They were even obliged to lend a loud hailer. All this was in return for a promise from a P.D. member that after a demonstration in the middle of the road from 5.24 to 5.34 that he would ask the crowd to disperse. .At the end of the agreed period it was announced that there would be another meeting the next day at the same time and there further plans would be revealed. The demonstrators then went home leaving behind one of the biggest traffic snarl-ups Belfast has ever seen. -In spite of this, many workers who had been delayed did not seem to mind too much. A typical comment the next day was "Sure, what's a bit of a delay, if they get the fares Another meeting was held on Tues.day evening. There it was announced that the P.D. intend to collect signatures from 16 Councillors to have the bus fare issue re-considered by the Council.

As an example to the businessmen who control the corporation the P.D would picket, on Friday morning, one of the six shops belonging to the Lord Mayor. This was intended as a warning to the rest of them that if they did not re-consider the question, then the working people of Belfast would hit them where it hurt most - in the pocket.

Widow Victimised Unionist hatred for their enemies knows no boundaries. The old saying of ''following one to the grave" has been changed by them to add, "and often beyond the grave’. The wife of a republican who was interned from 1957 - 1960 applied in the normal manner for her widow's pension. Imagine her dismay on being informed that because her late husband did not mark his cards for 1957/1960 she is only eligable for 3 pension. Now there is red tape for you!

This man was available at all times for work, but because of his different political views they in their wisdom threw him into jail without trial or charges. He was in no way able, because of their disorder, to mark his cards. Now they intend to punish his wife. Let all so-called liberals and moderates pass comment on this latest Unionist affront to an innocent woman, whose only 'crime' was to stand by her husband in all his troubles. We give a warning to all those men who were interned - to see to it that they, and their families, will not also be victimised similarily. The P.D. have a message for 'liberal' Chi Chi Clarke. Put this inhuman decision to one side, or it will be another crime you and your minnows will have to answer for before the People's Courts.

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