THE BUS WAR.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18369, 30 April 1925, Page 5

THE BUS WAR.

RIVAL DRIVERS HAVE WORDS. A CASE DISMISSED.

"I have advised tlio Inter-City Bus people not to bother any further but to let the matter drop, as they have driven the Tramway people off the road, and played the game." said Mr "W. F. Tracy at the Magistrate's Court while defending an Inter-City bus driver in an action brought by \tlic police for obscene language yesterday at the Magistrate's Court before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M.

George-Lowis (Mr YV. F. Tracy), driver of an Inter-City bus, was charged with having used obscene language in Cathedral square on March 27th. Motorman C. E. North, bus driver, employed by the Christchureh Tramways, "said that he arrived in the Square at 9 a.m. and pulled up behind the Inter-Citv bus. Lowis was talking on the other side of the road. He came up to witness and said: "I'll give you dust; what does the Tramway Board water the lines for?" Witness replied: "Not for every motor to run on." Lowis then said: "You're a nuisance." Witness replied: "I'm sorry if you've found me a nuisance," and Lowis said, "You're a liar." Witness then informed a constable of the affair.

To Mr Tracy: This man was always more or less chipping at me. I would not have taken-it so quietly if I had not been sitting iu my seat. "This .man has had trouble with every motorman on the road. He has smacked a motor-man in the face and been convicted for it. He has also been convicted for reckless driving, and has caused a lot of trouble. Witness had never said that he would drive them off the road.

Richard Bowman, of the tramway bus gave corroborative evidence.

Mr'Tracv said that North was the man who had instigated ail the charges against Lowis. George Lowis said in evidence that ho was a driver of one of the InterCity buses. A lot of his customers had complained that North was always getting ahead beeause he had the faster bus, for the purpose of giving the InterCity bus a lot of dust.

To Senior-Sergeant Lewin: Witness went over to North to tell him about the dust nuisance. He did not complain to the manager of the Board because he wanted to tell the man himself first. Ho maintained that North was the man who was doing all the swearing. It was not a one-sided affair. \ Mr Tracy: I have advised the InterCity people not to bother any further, but to let the matter drop, as they have driven the Tramway people off the road and played the game. They have won the battle. Frederick Dickinson, conductor of the Inter-City bus, also gave evidence. The Magistrate said that evidently there was bad blood between the two men. One said that the other annoyed his passengers with dust. The letting off of steam was merely between them, and was not heard by the general public. It was a matter of fifty-fifty. The case was dismissed.