TRAMWAYMEN'S CONDITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18722, 30 May 1924, Page 5

TRAMWAYMEN'S CONDITIONS.

, Sir, Permit me to ventilate a grievance on, behalf of tramway* employees. Being a terminus passenger on the Mount Albert-, Remuera circuit, desirous af reaching home 1 as early as -possible,- and in a drenched! state, I appealed to be permitted to board a tram with ""chains up'?- (Le. full car}.? The mofcorman graciously allowed me on'; ms platform if I cared to share it with: him. • I took the hint, as" I could hardly , feel less* comfortable riding there than"; waiting perhaps the usual 15 minutes and; | more > at' the • city section in • the rain, and! we are supposed to have an dight-ininutes' l j service. | The car was 1 fall, and I '.had toi' share the discomfort .of-'the motormanon the front platform of what is known ! as. a fifty," car, against a driving rain and wind. -The corporation must have pro-; • | duced this pattern of car from the " Ark.'*] I have travelled New; Zealand from th« • North -to extreme South, and, have ■' never suffered such a ride on any; tramway syis-1 tem. : On arriving home I had, to have a complete change. Bat what of the motorman, who has -to hold his .post until pt-r- 1 > haps midnight, and later, in such ! condi-- ■ taons ?:. The ; visibility was • bail.- (one could : I not see half a car's length, ahead), and ho must have . been drenched f aft 6.30, when / I left 'him. The rain, was pouring : in, both sides of the platform,; and he*had -, [ not even a canvas to shelter ; him. - I am |;:<¥sguhted to T&ink any,.human feeing 1 should be f asked vto " carry on" Under such deplorable conditions. i'/ Disgusted. V' .