1924

Keeping track

Legislation is being pursued by the Dáil with such haste that it is difficult, indeed, in most instances impossible, for the ordinary citizen to follow it.

This is all the more reason why the people whose concern it is should endeavour to watch the progress of legislation, to use their influence to prevent undue haste, and to take care that nothing shall be done that they do not thoroughly understand to be in the interests of the nation as a whole.

The new Bill for the amalgamation of Irish railways will be of very doubtful service to the people of Ireland, and in our view, it will be directly inimical to the interests of the West.

Whilst the main railway line from Dublin to Galway affords an excellent service, the West as a whole needs not merely better transport facilities, but much cheaper rates.

Admittedly our railways at the moment are not paying propositions, but it is proposed under the grouping system to reduce the element of competition, to compel all Irish railways in the Free State to surrender their ownership to a group in which Great Southern and Western will be the dominant partner.

Pictured: Aine Hynes, Forster Street and sisters Orla and Stephanie O’Brien, Whitestrand Avenue, who participated in the Oireachtas Feis on February 25, 1973.