TRAMWAY CONDUCTORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17141, 22 April 1919, Page 7

TRAMWAY CONDUCTORS.

Sir,— have been interested in the correspondence over the politeness, or otherwise, of the tramway officials. My. experience of the Auckland cars is not a very long one, only extending over a period of six months, but I should like to say the conductors, to me have been very polite and courteous j in fact, in some cases, when I have been inquiring for particular streets, they have pone out of their way to oblige me. It gives mo pleasure to be able to write in this strain, as I think verv often these officials are condemned unjustly. W.T.J.

Sir,— have read letters appearing in the Hebald on above subject, and as an old employee of over 13 years, both as conductor and raotorman, I must say that we have a lot to put up with from the public, as one meets all kinds of people. I could quote many cases where the public behave in a very nasty manner without cause, and of course some of these cases bring a retort from the tramwaymen. A couple of months ago a wellknown gentleman called a motorman " a dirty swine" because the car was full and he could not get on. Many of us have been called the worst names that it is : possible to call a man. Sometimes these cases have led to prosecutions, but many times there has been no redress. On two occasions it happened to me, and I let the offenders go like a fool. " Bolshevik's " letter, I consider, an insult to any union of men. It is plain he belongs to no union or he would not make such remarks. It is true we have a powerful organisation, but it is not to fight the Eublic with, only to protect the men who elong to it. Be Faib.

Sir,—Regarding the letters on tram conductors, I wish to state that if you want oats you must sow them. Try to give civility and get civility in return. For years I and other members of the fraternity have travelled on the Auckland trams, and up to the present have never at any time had occasion to take exception to the conduct of either conductor or motorman, or any other official. As to assisting passengers as to localities, if our friend " Hopeful " has never seen this done, all I can say is that he lias never looked for it, or he has had very little to do with the trams. I can assure the correspondents that I have never had the least difficulty in getting all the information I over wanted from these men, and on one occasion both conductor and motorman went to the extent of exceeding their duty on my behalf. Travellers should recollect that conductors have to suit the temperaments of, say, twenty to fifty thousand people. I wonder how Geo. S. Smyth and " Hopeful " would fill the bill. Certainly civility costs nothing. Let those who are looking for it give a little of it. I might state that I am in no way connected with, nor have I any interests in either the tramway or any of its em floyees, and to the best of my knowledge do not know personally one individual in the whole service. But I consider them a very patient and efficient lot if given the I chance to be so. I think they fully deserve any credit that can be bestowed upon them, and not abuse. P.S.G.

Sir,— notice with pleasure the two letters appearing in the Herald regarding the tramway service. My experience in both Christchurch and Wellington bears out all the correspondent —that the servant* of a municipal-owned service are far more polite and attentive to the travelling public than the employees of the Auckland Tramways Company are, or ever can be, at letst a lot of them. * have beard strangers openly abused for not knowing the correct, fare to tender to a certain destination. Such treatment is uncalled for, and politeness in giving a little more information, and showing a little courtesy, would always be welcome to the public. But, as your correspondent says, fancy an Auckland conductor taking any trouble to oblige a passenger. Axe the company blind to their faults, or ! callous, which? I say give us a change, and that soon. But, in fairness to some conductors, I must say that I had occasion to travel last Sunday on a Mount Eden tram, and I certainly saw a conductor assist both little children and elderly people to alight from the tram. He was a stranger on the route, and perhaps having children of his own and perhaps an aged mother he can feel for others. It is a great pity some of the others cannot do likewise. When the City Council take the service over, let us hope they will look well into this matter and give the public some consideration. I understand the present company always insist upon civility. Why don't they see it carried out, and give some consideration to the many written complaint* they, must receive. yjagaL