MANNERS MAKETH THE MAN

Press, 26 May 1977, Page 27

MANNERS MAKETH THE MAN

Transport Board buses, when on the road, contain a good many items of information for the safety and guidance of their passengers. One familiar notice requires that children should not be seated if adults are standing. If there have been many complaints from educationists in recent years about the depressingly low levels of attainment in children’s reading and writing, it is hard to believe that the wording of these notices is beyond the comprehension of secondary school pupils. But by and large, the injunction is ignored.

A man of our acquaintance, noted for his mildness of manner, his cheerfulness and his good humour, climbed aboard a bus in Cathedral Square on an afternoon a few weeks ago — just at the onset of winter. It was bitterly cold, and blowing. He found all the seats occupied, three-quarters of them by girls and boys. He had to hold on to o’ne of the metal stanchions, and found it a difficult exercise as the bus wallowed through the traffic. He noticed, too, that three women with packed shopping bags were also standing: and as far as

the seated schoolchildren were concerned, the four adults might not have existed. He had to go as far as Merivale Lane, but at the second stop from the Square, he alighted. “They don’t seem to have any manners these days,” this amiable man said to the driver. "I prefer to walk.” "Good on you,” said the driver. Mind you, there was probably nothing the man needed more than a good long hike on an icy, windy afternoon. After all, he did have a back wind . , . and he is only 80.