WOMEN AS TRAM PASSENGERS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14408, 16 July 1912, Page 8

WOMEN AS TRAM PASSENGERS.

TO THE OF "THE WtESS." Sir,—l wish to ventilate through your columns a grievance which causes no little annoyance to tho men who regularly patronise the Christchurch tramway servico. I wish it to bo understood that what 1 say in this letter, is the result of personal observations, extending over a very considerable period. It gives mc no pleasure to have to make a complaint, but I feel that in making it I am doing good service to my feilow-inen. 1 wish to <lr.iW your attention, and the attention of the public,. to tho discourteous, inconsiderate, and selfish conduct of so many of the women who use the trams in this city. My observations have led no to the conclusion that when the average female boards a car sho leaves her good manners on tho footboard. Her primitive instinct to get things as easily as possible comes to the surface, and the result is that male passengers are tveated in a scandalous fashion. She never cdbts an eaqutiing glance over tho cii to ascertain .in c which part there are empty seats. She simply insinuates herself into tho neurest compartment, and it thero is not an empty seat, she turns out any unfortunate man who mny chance to bo ii. that particular compartment. I can givo my own oft-re-p« ted experience in support ot ih'3 indictment. Coming into the city I occupied a seat in tho front cabin of a car. At one stopping-place a -lumber of women got on, and all imaded the cabin. I had to give up my seat and become a strap-hanger until the next stopping-place was reached. Then I got off the car and went back to the cabin at the l.*ck, where there were several empty seats. " A glance would havo shown these women that there was room in the rear cabin, but they did not bother. They had no compunction in selfishly turning men out of their sqats. , ~ . The attitude of women towards others of their own sex with whom they are not acquainted is both amusing and deplorable. Women seem to regard any- unintroduced female simply as a -'person." I have seen several women occupying a long side seat in a cabin. Each one seemed to shrink from her neighbour, and thero were obvious.spaces between them. Another woman would come in, but. would those on the seat "move up" to mako room for her ? They sat uncompromisingly still, and the hostility with which they regarded her and one another could bo felt. They waited for mo to get out of my seat and surrender it to the latest arrival. The woman who will not rido in a frailer, but will mako a man give. up his seat in the electric car, is no stranger. The impudent ''flapper" who. bounce into a car and practically demands a seat is also unpleasantly frequent. The thoughtless young woman, who accepts a seat from a man old enough to bo her father, never thinking of his physical weariness, or that his need is greater than her own, is also too numerous. If women only knew it, men give up their seats with smiles on their faces, but with rago in their hearts. Contrast for a moment the conduct of the average man in tho tramcar. He cheerfully gives up i his seat to an elderly or tired woman, or to an elderly or tired man. Then -wherever men are, and however crowded the seats, there is always room for "a little one.' They put up with the pushing and scuffling on the platforms with good humour. Has anyone ever seen a woman give up her seat to an old and feeble member of her own or the opposite sex ? I have seen it once. A girl gave up her seat to a whitehaired old man. She was a delightful exception, but she was not an average girl. There is a chanco for women t» show their independence, and to refuse to he parties to the system which has sprung up with tho tramway service. A strong, healthy young woman should decline to avail herself of the privileges of her sex; in the ungenerous, uniust, and tyrannical fashion with which we have been made so unpleasantly familiar. I have penned this blast against ."the monstrous regiment of women" m no unfriendly spirit. 1 want them to put on their thinking bonnets, and examine themselves. Their memories and consciences will approve what I have writ--1 PASSENGER.