TRAM SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 102, 1 May 1940, Page 8

TRAM SERVICE.

WAGES DEADLOCK. DISPUTE CONTINUES. ATTITUDE OF PUBLIC. MORE TIRESOME TRIPS. v. age- dilute -.vita the Auvklai.i Trai.--port Bvard were not adhering us ri.-idiy to so-.-ailed "safety first principles" ayeste: day. when they ;n> i.ed tnfcir campaign for recognition of their claim f'-r an > per cent increa-e. based on the Confirmation of thi- imp:Cssion was ;-:u-n by an official of the board, who commented that he did not th ; nk the men's tactics were quite <-o as intense to-day. "I don't think the trams are running : o slow, but the position is still serious," he added. An official of the Tramways' Union .-tated this afternoon that about 1200 men are involved in the ""go-slow" trouble. Members of the public expressed gratification at the improvement in the service, and were agreeably surprised when, after allowing a good margin for slow travelling, they discovered that they were deposited in Queen Street only five minutes behind normal time. At the same time, passengers continued to vo;ce their protests at being made the innocent victims of a dispute which is no concern of theirs. The brunt of the attacks in tLe main fell on conductors, ana it was obvious that in some cases they were lot wholly in sympathy with the stand being taken by their companions. Passenger Pulled the Bell. The public were up to quite a number of tricks in an endeavour to speed up their own particular services. For instance, it is on record that on one route ong conductor was left behind as a result oi a passenger pulling the bell cord and giving an unsuspecting motorman the signal to move on. The conductor after making- inquiries as to an earlier pulling on the cord, dismounted and started to walk leisurely to the front of the tram, when the second signal was given. Awav shot the tram, and a sharp sprint to catch up with it did not improve the conductor's temper. It was noticeable that patronage of the tranas fell away appreciably this morning. Many people, made wise after the irksome delays in travel yesterday, clubbed together and took taxis to work, or ; obtained "lifts" from friends and neighbours. Others again resorted to the use of push cycles, and those "within easonablc distance of the city preferred ".shanks' pony" to travelling by tram•ar. Another noticeable feature was the act that trams were banking up at the oot of Queen -Street practically empty, nd in most instances the conductor and notorman were in sole possession. As -oon as many cars '"hit Queen Street/' the large body of passengers, wearied by their slow progress from outer suburbs, alighted and walked. The Stragglers walked from further down Queen Street, but at Shortland Street, passengers were few and far between, except on ears making the turn off at Customs Street. Fifty Pei Cent Normal. Yesterday it was estimated that the uen s interpretat on of the regulations I'si;lted in the tramways giving not more than 50 per cent of the normal service. On the longest routes, six and e\en se\en trams were more or less in conjunction in Queen Street at time.-. In the rush hours between 5 and 6 p.m., both tracks in Lower -Qu-een Street were fully occupied by standing- and slowmoving trams. Taking all. things into consideration, it was not surprising that city theatre managers reported smaller audiences than usual at the pictures. However, although there were some long waits for trams about 10 p.m., the after" theatre crowd/? found relatively little difficulty in obtaining prompt transport from the city. There were, nevertheless, occasions when up to live cars were banked up at the safety zone near the corner of Queen Street and Wellesley Street, and the outwards trips generally occupied much more time than usual. Just how exasperating the slow service could be was illustrated by the case of a Point Chevalier resident, who last night had to transact business at Three terminus. His business was carried through in ten minutes at Three and yet four houre elapsed between the time he left home and returned. The bulk of his time was either spent in waiting- for trams or travelling at a slow pace in them.