“Treated Like School Children"

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 232, 20 December 1927, Page 11

“Treated Like School Children"

TRAM MEN INDIGNANT TALKING TO MOTORMEA “The men strongly object to being treated like a lot o* schoolchildren, said Mr. J. Liddell, secretary of the Tramwaymen* Union, discussing the outcome of the notice posted in tram depots recently forbidding the motormen holding any converse with passen gers on pain of losing their good conduct holidays. Meetings of tramway men were henl in the Trades Hall yesterday ard endorsed the following resolution: That, in view of the fact that id by-law allowing passengers to stand on the front platform of cars was made on the recommendation of tin* general manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, this union strongly resents the notice recently posted in depots and the threat of loss of good conduct holidays contained therein, and requests that the general manager and Air. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Tramways Committee of the City Council, meet a deputation from the union not later than to-morrow (Wednesday) to discuss the position. “Politeness and courtesy are things that matter, but if this rule were insisted on and a passenger were to ask a simple polite question of a motorman he would have to stand as mute as a statue,” said Mr. LiddelL “All we ask is consistency.. But if the management itself were to adhere rigidly to its own by-laws and regulations trams would never run up to time-table and the position would be much worse than it is to-day. “If the management had posted a notice that all by-laws and regulations which endangered the lives of passengers and tramway workers were to be observed, then the union would wholeheartedly supported it. But it is not in a position to do that. HELPED IN THE FIGHT

“When the opposition buses were running the tram men helped in the fight Often the motorman helped in the light against the buses made a race of it to help to keep patronage for thr trams. The management after notin* this, and although fully aware of th« grave danger cut down the timetables to force motormen to speed up, especially during peak-load periods. ThlA imposition was the men’s thanks for doing their bit. “At the same time, when the trams were encountering opposition, the tramwaymen broke the regulations am carried large numbers of passengers Jr excess of the load permitted. The management blinded its eyes to this breach. Instead of appreciating whn the men had done, the management am the City Council took the opportunity to pass a by-law which allowed tram? to be overcrowded both in the Interb ors and on the platforms. "Since the opposition of the buses has been overcome the men have felt that the council should have rescinded the regulations which speeded-up the timetables and permitted the overloading on the grounds that they were ‘war* measures against the buses. Notwithstanding the repeated representations of the Tramwaymen'l Union, it has not seen fit to do so. “Now it is adding insult to injur: by allowing passengers to crowd rounthe motorman and address him wbJl forbidding him to reply. At the sani* time the perpetual sermon is that th* men must at all times be courteous am civil.” The chairman of the Tramways Coni mittee of the City Council, Mr. J. A. C Allum, and the manager, Mr. A. B Ford, are to meet a deputation from th* union to-morrow morning at 11 o’clock