TRAMS & SPECIAL CONSTABLSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 7

TRAMS & SPECIAL CONSTABLSE.

CITY COUNCIL CONCERNED. Indignation has boon freo'y expressed at tluvconduct of certain tramway employees towards special co'iist'abl.oa.' I'or Soino' days statements liavo been going tlm rounds regarding tho hostile attitude taken up by some of ihe men towards the specials, but when ono incident was mentioned in "'he DouixioJf soma days ago, tho chairman of the Tramway Board of .Management, infornied a contemporary that 1m did not believe that _it was t-riio. However, the oxtraordiiiarv conduct of several of the men on Wednesday afternoon left no room for doubt as to their disregard for law and prd.'or. In tlie main streets their conduct was such that complaints were lodged about them and now it appears a number will have to appear in tile Magistrate's Court. Several names woro banded to

tho police by citizens who intend to ejfer evidence in support of charges of obstruction.

The matter was considered at a special meeting of the City Council yesterday afternoon. The Mayor (Mr. J. I', Luke) mentioned that complaints had been made by councillors and by others outside tho council in regard to the conchict of tho moiormen, Ho personally regretted that several motormen had apparently acted in a manner to ondangor the horseificn oil Wednesday afternoon. Such conduct did . not redound to tho men's credit. ■ Tho City Council was distinctly concerned that at a.supremo moment such as Thursday afternoon, when tho constables Woro passing tho cars, tlie.ro was n departure from tho British tradition of fair dealing. Happily, tlio bad behaviour Was confined to only a portion of the staff ; ho was very pleased with the loyalty and goodfellowship of the great majority. Thoso who worn convicted of miscoiiduot would be. Buiiished, on. their deserts, for tho ■public goad. Mr. Luke then invited the chairman of ihe Tramway Hoard of Management to make a statement, Tho chairman expressed his keen disappointment mid that- of tho board at the discovery of tho condition of affairs .existing. . Tho boa,fd. ho said, was particularly concerned that such inc-idoiit.s a.s had been reported had occurred.

It wai resolved that when the bOas had thoixHiclily ir.qviiivil i.jtfo tho cases reported, tlio board should submit a statement to tlio eouiieil for consideration and action.