LARRIKINISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20084, 23 October 1928, Page 12

LARRIKINISM.

Sir, —While travelling on Saturday night on a last car bound for a distant suburb I became aware of a disturbance on the rear platform, and the tram stopped for sotne time while the conductor loudly requested a passenger to sit down inside the car oi to leave the car altogether. It appears that the. passenger, one of a part} of young larrikins, had made insulting remarks to several girls as they left the car, and the conductor's action was a protest against this. The passenger refused to obey the conductor and I here ensued a somewhat unseemly fracas in which the conductor tried to eject the youth forcibly. Some resistance was offered and tho conductor failed in his attempt. At the next stop the olTender left the tram and war, picked up by a passing motor-cyclist. Young men of this type frequently make themselves very obnoxious, and the language on last cars, and especially audible criticism of passengers, can sometimes become extremely unpleasant. Has not a conductor the right to demand the name and address of such a passenger, and to report him to the proper authorities? A conductor should not have to resort to physical force and risk rough handling from these young larrikins. Our tramway employees are a courteous and efficient body of men, and if they had tho full support of the law in such an emergency, they would not abuse their power, and would make tram (ravelling more pleasant, especially for women and girl passengers travelling at night without escorts. Tham Passenger.