TRAM SERVICES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 73, 23 September 1930, Page 15

TRAM SERVICES

In a further ' reference to Wellington tram services, Mr. L. D. Austin writes:— "In reply to my first letter on this subject, your correspondent, Mr. L. M. Talbott, endeavours to draw a red herring across the trail in suggesting that I have accused the tramway operators of general discourtesy. Speaking broadly, I should say that in respect of politeness to passengers Wellington tramwaymen are no better or worse than those in other centres; their daily work is onerous, monotonous, and—at rush hours—nerve wearing, so it would not be surprising if occasionally they exhibited signs of strain and irritability, forgetting the precepts of Chesterfield, of whom —according to Mr. Talbott —they are normally such exemplary disciples. No, Sir, I have not raised the question of courteous behaviour; my criticism is solely directed at tho methods obtaining in the running of the Wellington tramway sei'vices, and at the nonobservance of certain rules and regulations by motormen and conductors. I have made no assertion which cannot be proved, and if Mr. really believes my statements to be unfounded, ho is either very unobservant or conveniently blind to obvioua facts."

Mr. Austin repeats some of the principal points raised in his first letter to which there has been no official reply: "(1) Trams habitually leave the outlying termini either before or after schedule time; (2)it is a common practice for drivers to start off without waiting for the conductor's bell; (3) conductors very rarely survey the environs before leaving the termini, or even the intermediate stops, for that matter; (4) motormen frequently ignorp the signs 'Motormen ring,' and 'All cars stop here'; (5) at the various junctions where different routes intersect no attempt is made at co-ordination, nor is passenger's convenience studied in the least degree."

The writer contiuues: "Nobody begrudges tho hard-worked tramway men their smokes or their papers, or their brief periods of respite; but surely it is not unreasonable to remind them that there is a time and a place for every-J thing, or that whilst they are actually on their job tne convenience of tho travelling public, for whom, the cars really exist, should be the paramount qonsidcration."