A CELLO IN THE BOOT

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33479, 9 March 1974, Page 1

A CELLO IN THE BOOT

HAMILTON, March 8 freight in Railways Road Services buses goes in the boot, even if it is a musical instrument worth 810,000. the world-famous Smetana Quartet discovered this yesterday when the cellist. Antonin Kohout, wanted to take his cello from Auckland to Hamilton by bus. I’he quartet’s two violins and viola were allowed in the bus, but the driver drew the line at the cello. I he cellist offered to pay for a seat for the cello, and to hold it all the way to Hamilton. But he was told it could be packed in the boot or the side compartment, and could not he carried in the bus. The driver said he would not drive the bus if the cello was put in the passenger compartment. If the bus stopped suddenly, the cello would fall over and hit someone on the head, he told the group. Speaking for the quartet, which nlaved in Hamilton last night, Mr Luhomir Kostecky said he could have understood the driver’s stand a little better if

the bus had been full, hut there were five seat* empty, including the whole back row. "We did not want to put the cello in the boot with other luggage, as we were afraid it could be damaged on a humpy road." A representative ot the Auckland Chamber Music Society later drove Mr Ivo hout and his cello to Hamilton, while the other three members ol lhe quartet travelled in the bus. Ihe assistant district manager ol Road Sen ices in Auckland (Mr G. I Jackson) said lodav that the driver ol the hus bound by a directive from the National I nion ot Railwaymen not to take large freight ohiects in the passenger compartment. “1 he department’s hand* are tied in this matter." Mr Jackson said. The union's directive had been elven tor good reasons, as large freight objects could hurt someone if they fell over, he said. The driver bad ofiered to nut the cello in the boot or side comnartment. where it would have been sale, but the cellist had refused