TRAMWAY BY-LAWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14610, 18 February 1908, Page 4

TRAMWAY BY-LAWS.

THE TREATMENT OF CONDUCTORS Thomas Emerson, a young man, at tempted to board a tram in Cathedra' Square on Saturday night, but the eon due tor deemed him to be <lrunk ; a; ' put him off the car. Emerson,' it alleged, then used obscene language the conductor, and was ~ hand over to the police on the charge. H> ' appeared at the Magistrate's Court yestorday, and pleaded not guilty. Sub-inspector Dwyer, alter outlining the case, said that he had requested tho conductor and an inspector to attend the Court and givo evidence, but they had refused to do so, although they had given the accused in charge. He intended, however, to subpeena them. Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., said that the beat way to deal with the matter was to mako a formal complaint to the chairman of the Tramway Board, a« that was the only way to bring the matter to a head. Ho would very soon put a stop to. that sort of tiling. Either that or the police would have to eeaoo protecting the tramway employees against abuse. He remanded the" accused until tho afternoon, the two witnesses to be subpoenaed meantime. On the resumption of the ease, Mr Cassidy stated that he was appearing for the accused, who pleaded not guilty, but did not remember the occurrence. Mr Bishop (to Sub-inspector Dwyer): Have you ascertained wliy these tramway men were not here? Sub-inspector Dwyer: I will hear what they say now. Mr Bishop: Well, ask them in the box. Ernest Heyder, inspector to the Tramway Board, said that the accused, who was drunk, endeavoured to board the Riecarton tram on Saturday night. He was prevented, and after the tram ' had left used the language complained of. Witness had not attended at the Court in the morning because the accused had seen him on the following morning and had apologised. Mr Bishop: But you had given the man in custody. Were you instructed by the chairman of the Tramway Board to appear here this morning? Witness replied that Mr Staples, a member of the Tramway Board, had telephoned to the chairman, he understood, seating that there was no necessity for him to give evidence, i Mr Bishop: Well, you can most distinctly take it from me that when you give a man into custody for a serious charge, which involves a sentence of twelve months' imprisonment, it is your duty in the interests of the public, the Board and your fellow employees to do your best to sheet the charge home. Continuing, Mr Bishop 6aid that he did not particularly blame the inspector. He had been influenced by a member of the Board, whose instruction he probably did not wish to run counter to. However, no member of the Board had any right to take such a course. He not speaking to the inspector, who had been placed in an awkward position, but through him to others. It was not a question of whether the Tramway Board wished to push a charge in an offence of the sort, but it was a question of protecting the public. The conductor of the tram also gave evidence, but said that he had not been ; asked to' attend the Court until he was subpoenaed. For the defence, Mr Cassidy said that the accused had been drunk at the time of the offence. He was otherwise a steady man with a wife and three children, and bore an excellent character. , .„ . Mr Bishop said that if it was true that accused bore such a good character, ho was astounded that he should use'such language to men who were doing no more than their duty. He was glad to hear that the officials took such steps to keep men off the cars, for in his opinion too much laxity was shown towards drunken and disreputable men who boarded the cars. He wished to impress on tho accused that if there had been anything against him before the"p i-eS6lrfc offence, he would have been sent to gaol without the option of a fine. In this case he would impose a fine'of £2, in default one month's im- ! prisonment; but if the accused came j before him again charged with using ' bad language ; he would be sent to gaol.

If he could not take a glass of liquor without making a blackguard of himself, ho had better keep away from liquor. <