A CONSCIENTIOUS CONDUCTOR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1661, 13 September 1887, Page 3

A CONSCIENTIOUS CONDUCTOR.

An ex-omnibus oonduotor's qaalms of •ontolence bring into pronineaoe the Vieiotu system upon which the omnibus and tramoar companies oarry on their bniioMi. Thii conductor states that Sftoeo f ears ago ha wai m the servioe of tht London General Omnibus company for twelve months, and during that time ha fallfji to pay m ten poandii. He now Wtttaa and propose! to repay this Bum, together with fifteen years' interest, and Man earnest of his good intentions has already forwarded five pounds ou account. XJ&der ordinary oironmstanoeß petty pilfering is a serious offence, bnt In tbe oaie of the omnibus conductors It is well understood by the direotors that their aaen retain parts of the receipts to pay the fees leried on them. The driver is expected to fee the horsekeepers daily to keep his stnd m good order, tbe yardmeD blackmail the conductor, who is also sup posed to "tip "tbe odd men who look after the vehlole during the few brief tests between the journeys. At one time It wai also oastomary to regularly fee the polloe, but an attempt has been made to itop this practice. With all these Illegitimate call* on his pocket it is hardly likely that a oondnotor would pay them out of his own wages of four shillings a day ; and although fees are nominally dit* eouraged by the company, the directors appear to be unable to stop the pernicious praotioe whioh has oansed their anooyBaoni correspondent snob perturbation of ■pirlt.— London psppr.