PARROT DIRECTS TRAFFIC

Shannon News, 19 June 1923, Page 1

PARROT DIRECTS TRAFFIC

COMEDY OF A TRAM STOP. It has only now been discovered, says the Johannesburg correspondent of the Central News, that a parrot has been directing traffic, has mischievously schemed against the public convenience, and scoffed at the angry protestof tram, passengers when they were left behind. Now that the mystery has been solved the bird is no longer allowed to play tricks on the unwary. Strange as it seems, the situation was created and maintained by the parrot,’ which at its own will actually controlled traffic from a window in the flat at Main Street, Jeppestown. At a spot where the parrot has its cage there is always a large number of people boarding and alighting from tram cars, and for some 1 -time members of the public have been complaining that undue haste was being shown in restarting the cars. The result was that many passengers were left behind, whilst others were carried beyond their destination. When protests were made, the responsibility was placed by the drivers on the conductors, and by the conductors on the motormen, although the latter always declared that they had been given the “right-away” before th<sv again set the cars in motion. There was much unpleasantness, but always the public took the side of the drivers.

x At last it was discovered that the parrot had acquired with amazing precision the language of the conductors, and was able to give the “right-away” and “hold-tight” in such a manner that the drivers accepted the words as the signals from the conductors, and started the cars again. Many a scramble was caused when there was a large crowd waiting, and the . malicious bird gave the “'rightaway” }bef ore many people had managed to get off the cars and others had been able to get on. Once when a girl had been unable to get on to the ear before it restarted the bird added to her annoyance as she stumbled by shrieking: “Naughty girl!” the words being followed by Shrill whistles, which directed more than ordinary attention to the already embarrassed young woman. The parrot was as proficient in the use of Dutch as English. She had caused such a tremendous confusion that the authorities regarded her as dangerous, and have now prevailed, upon her owner to have, her withdrawn from public view.