TRAMWAY BY-LAWS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16516, 7 May 1919, Page 4

TRAMWAY BY-LAWS.

CASES BEFORE THE COURT.

I "This case is on instance of officialdom gone mad," sold Mr J. Caspidy at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court yesterday when defending Andrew Stevenson, charged under the trpnnvays by-laws with refusing tp leave a conductor's platform when - ordered to do so. The evidence of the pei'sou charged was that he hpd offered to leave the platform if seating accommodation could be found for him. He objected to "strap-hanging" because of a physical infirmity. JPor the prosecution evidence was given by thp conductor pn the North Beach car that the defendant had been twice requested to move, from tfye platfprm, £nd j)P refused to do so. Another witness corroborated tjjis. Mr Cassid.y contended that the trqmwp.j' officials ljad no right to take money from passengers unless they eouid find for tjiem, If a taxi-driver overcrowded his vehicle he 'would goon have a city traflic inspector after him, and J?e added, "If this is the wgy the Board conducted the tramway traffic it was t;me that changes were made." The Magistrate then perused the tramway by-tews, find said that when a passenger boarded a tramcar he became subject t*> the motorman j of conductor. He remarked, '*If everyone were a law unto himself pn a ciowded car there would be some pecuhpr developments."' He inflicted a npe of 10s and costs. . Edwin Bates, who on tramwav officios evidence was proved to be a confirmed "over-rider" beyond sections, and who also mused to leave a conductor s platform when requested to do so was fined £1 and costs for overriding beyond his legal fare, and n srailar amount for refusing to leave the platform pf the car. 3