NO PRAMS ON TRAMS

Evening Star, Issue 26043, 6 March 1947, Page 6

NO PRAMS ON TRAMS

*A MOTHER'S TROUBLES DELAYED JOURNEY TO MAORI HILL A harassed mother, an implacable bus driver, a baby, and a perambulator 1 These were the ingredients yesterday afternoon in one of those street dramas that excite the interest, and sometimes the sympathy of the travelling public. As the queue formed up in Frederick street for the 4.32 bus to Maori Hill it was headed by several perambulators, while the mothers and children waited patiently. The bus was a little later than usual, and the 4.30 whistle had sounded when it arrived at. the starting point. •“ Can’t take the pram, lady/’ said, the driver, 1 when the first mother and child climbed on board. “ It’s after half-past four.” After some presumably light badinage had passed between the parties, a rather heated mother stepped off the bus with her child and the queue began once more to move into the bus.’ Then a small mothers’ meeting was held grouped round the several push chairs, and a spokesman- was deputed to telephone the ,tramsheds from the public box across the street. ; - The 4.32 duly left to grind its way up the hill, packed almost to suffocation with long-suffering humanity. Almost at once a queue began to form for the 4.42 for Maori Hill and Cannington road. Presently two of the mothers with children and perambulators' reappeared,- left the push chairs at the sidewalk, and firmly took their places at the head of the queue. Up from Cumberland street camß the 4.42, and first on, of Course, was one of the mothers, more determined than her companion. “ Can’t take the; pram lady,” said the new driver, f . It’s after fourthirty.” “ Yes, you will,” said a red-faced mother. “ I-rang up the tramsheds' and they said you would take prams on the Cannington road bus.” Somewhat uncertain, the driver appeared likely to issue a ticket, but he asked: “ You want to go to Cannington road? ” “ No, Maori Hill,” was the reply. “ Then I can’t take you. It is after half-past four and our instructions are definite that no prams are to be carried, after four-thirty. There have been buses up to Hill all the afternoon.” “It’s no 1186,” called the other mother from the footpath. “He won’t take us.” But the modern mother is not readily defeated. After another ‘ • consultation, a second move was made to the telephone box, and a . conversation was in progress when the 4.42, also packed to suffocation, started its trip. Rumour has it that the mother, child, and perambulator, duly went up the hill about five o’clock. Whether father received his tea or not, or . whether he heard a highly spiced version of the incident, is not recorded. However, it did not end with that. As we boarded the 10.15 to Maori Hill and Cannington road last evening, an elderly female passenger was ruminating on the affair, and discussing it with the driver, who was vigorously defending the refusal to take the perambulators because of the rule of “no prams on the trams from 4.30 to 6 p.m.” She took much convincing, and, determined to have the last word, remavked that there might be justification for barring perambulators after 5 o’clock. She did not get her wish, however, for the driver was by now properly roused, and she found it expedient to change' the subject' by drawing attention - to a Chinese fruiterer counting his takings, and marvelling at the size of the roll.'