CR GORE AND THE TRAM CONDUCTORS.

Evening Star, Issue 12881, 2 August 1906, Page 3

CR GORE AND THE TRAM CONDUCTORS.

At last night’s meeting of the Oity Council a letter was read from the Otago Tramways Union expressing regret at the unfounded statement made by Or Gore to the effect that the sale of concession tickets enabled conductors to make 2d in the shilling, and asking that he bo requested to substantiate or withdraw the statement. The Mayor asked whether it , was the wish of tho Council to merely receive the letter. Or Gore; No. I should like to say a word or two about it. It virtually accuses me of telling a falsehood. Well, if I am wrong at any time there is no one more .willing than lam to admit it- There has been some correspondence in the paper about this matter. Of that I should have taken no notice. Very probably it does not proceed from the tramway employees at all. But at the Ratepayers’ Association meeting one well-known citizen said; " Another thing that struck him, and caused hmi surprise, was the remark that Cr Gorei made, that conductors had been robbing the Council it was a very serious statement to make without proof.” So it was. It was a very serious statement to make without proof. But this gentleman might have been candid enough to give the Ratepayers Association' my other remarks at the same time, which were to the effect— I have not got them by me—that the Tramways Committee had the utmost confidence in the majority of the employees. ISOi SO -^ n d lam free to admit that the word “ rohbed ” is a very ugly one. Perhaps I might have used a better word. If I had said “ leakage ” it would probably hayo been more euphonious and not have given offence. That there has been leakage there is no question, Yonr Worship and members of the Tramways Committee are aware that on not one but several occasions men have been dismissed for breaches of tire regulations. What was running in my mind when speaking was the case a short time ago when the manager reported to the Coimij—cc that on one of the bags being inspected there were, I think, six tickets that, on being placed together, were found to be consecutive. It is almost an impossibility that six persons should purchase six tickets and travel the same day with the same conductor eighty-four times. This was so suspicious that the person involved was called up, and he admitted, after some trouble, that he put 6s in the bag and Is into his pocket. You, sir, and members of the tramways Committee, knew of that. As I have said, the word “ robbed ” is uglv. Bnfc I also said that wo havo confidence in the majority of the employees. They are mostly a. good class of men. I do not travel very often on tho trams, and then only as a rule to go down the. street towards my house, but when I do travel on the trams I take notice of the men and their conduct, and Vrith one exception, when the man was subjected to great provocation—indeed, I was surprised that he kept his temper—with that one exception I ' har j not hmg but the most courteous conduct on the part of the hands. I have »©en them show great kindness and thoughtfulness to women and children, and no doubt the majority of the men are a credit to the service hut out of so many employees it is not at all surprising if there are one or two black I move thlt the letter be referred to yourself and the Irani ways Committee to inquire and report,as,tf > facts I have stated. I have no doubt that if you look at the reports or the tramway manager you will find that mv statements are fully borne out. L-r bcott; T second the motion. Cr Walker: I think what they take sSemern that you ma<le a general statement. If you gave a denial that von intended to refer to all the employees—-I The Mayor: He has done that'already. Alie motion was carried.