PRO-GERMAN TRAMWAYMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1916, Page 6

PRO-GERMAN TRAMWAYMEN.

«_»i CHRISTCHURCH INCIDENTS. INDIGNANT MEDICAL MAN. One of the best-known doctors in Christchurch, Dr. Brittan, of Papanui, failed to observe the precept of the tramway regulations, and the result lias been a chapter of revelations and the placing of Abe doctor in the quandary that he declines to ride on trams in his section run by two particular motormen. One day the doctor, full of the war, remarked: "Motorman No. , don't you wish you were at the front?"

''No," was the reply. "I would not fight for anyone."

"What! If the Germans were to come here and you saw one of them attempt to murder or violate your wife, you would not do anything for her?"—"No, I wouldn't"

"Why?"—"l could easily get another wife." That was rather a shock to the doctor, but hia genial habit of a word to the tramway man was to get a further shock.

To another motorman the doctor made a remark about the Lusitania outrage. The motorman promptly retorted: "The Germans were perfectly justified in doing it; everything is fair in love and war."

Dr. Brittan eroclaimed: "Pull this car up and let me off, or you Will be on the road before I am."

He was let off the car, and so indignant was he that he saw the police, the tramway officers, and the Defence officers as to the undesirability of people with such views being in the service of the public of Christchurch when others of perhaps much less harmful opinions were interned. None of the officials could do anything for him beyond deploring the incidents. The doctor, however, felt that as a citizen be had no right to be morally debarred from travelling on particular trams because he would not be carried by men holding such views at such a time and lie wrote the Tramway Board.' From the board lie has now received the following letter:—"With respect to the complaint lodged by you of unpatriotic remarks of tramway employees and , I have to say that the board's Works and Traffic Committee, while sharing in your detestation of such conduct, was unable to see its way clear to take any drastic steps in the meantime. The matter will, how-. j ever, be kept in mind." . ...