“TICKETS, PLEASE!”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4, 3 September 1915, Page 6

“TICKETS, PLEASE!”

IN THE WRONG CARRIAGE, Before Mr Kenrick, S.M.. at tin Stratford Court to-day, W, .). Lib (Mr R. Spence) was charged with ob structing a railway guard while in tin execution of his duty on the train between Hawera and Stratford on the night of August 5; also with using abusive language to the same guard while/ iu the execution of his duty. On the application of the police, the second charge was withdrawn. Counsel stated that Lile got on the train at Hawera in possession of a second-class ticket, and was talking to a friend in a first-class compartment when tile guard fame through the- carriage. When the guard told Lile the was in a first-class carriage with a second-class ticket, he held up the official to ridicule. Mr Spence said that his client showed the guard S his ticket, hut the official would not listen to his explanation. The Magistrate, in giving his decision. said it was a wrong practice for travellers to procure second-class tickets, and stop talking to friends in a first-class carriage. The guard had got to see that nobody travelled on the trains without tickets, and it is also his duty-to see that people with second-class tickets stayed in the second-class carriage. Tale should not have delayed the guard. The Magistrate said the public ought to treat the guards fairly, and have their tickets ready when asked for. Lile was fined 20s and 7s costs.