STRAP-HANGING IN OARS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 141, 13 June 1908, Page 7

STRAP-HANGING IN CARS.

(To the Editor.} Sir, —In your issue thi? evening there is something about the strap-hanging in the cars, and it is notice "was taken of this nuisance.' Only last night I got on a car at the corner of Hobsonstreet, paying an extra penny to go down so as to get a set going back to Ponsonby. The car was so packed that I had passed the Pitt-street Chapel before the conductor could collect my fare. I made the remark to him that bo had over his number. Again, on a Saturday a few weeks before, I boarded a car at "Franklin-road. I reckoned the car was full, but passengers came on board at every stoppage. We were packed like herrings. I got to Pitt-street and then had no cliance to pay my fare. I got off and took the next car. Did I pay the fare? No; I consider I ought to be paid to ride under such circumstances. Now, this state of affairs is no fault of the conductors, but the City Council alone are to blame. When in their wisdom they allowed strap-hangers for 10 or 8, they might just as well have made it 100 or 80. For the short time it was stopped one could ride comfortably, and just as' people were getting accustomed to it, the whole tiling was capsized by this foolish law allowing a certain number of strappers. I have seen the conductors at the foot of Wellesley-street stay at the back of the car and prevent passengers from coming on, because the car was full; and then when it had started up the street, men came on, unhooking the chain or climbing over the gate, while he (the conductor) was in the car trying to collect his fares. In my opinion, the only strappers should be those who wear a uniform, such as postmen, police, and telegraph employees; not but what these men ought to sit, and should do so, but because of their dress they could be noticed. Outside of them, the City Councillors, and in their cane I would say the loops of the straps might be made large enough to put their heads in instead of their hands.—l am, etc., J. H. CORNISH. June 11, 1908.