A COMPLAINT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7029, 18 January 1910, Page 7

A COMPLAINT

(To the Editor *‘N,Z. Timea.”) . Sir,—! wish to draw, attention. to tho disgraceful manner in which the ‘Union. Company’s Officials on the s.s. Maori treat women with children. On End ay evening last my wife and child were passengers by'the Maori for Lyttelton. I made a special journey from Paimerston in. order to see them safely on hoard tho boat. ,AYe arrived at the gangway a quarter of an hour before sailing, and I at onc*e endeavoured to assist my wife, who was in bad health, by carrying the baby aboard, but was at once shoved back by an abrupt official. I called to several stewards to assist her, but without avail. However, she managed with great difficulty to struggle on hoard with child in arms -and having to carry hag and hold out ticket for inspechon. Sir, what I wish to point out is that the U.S.S. Co/s officials practically fall over one another to assist commercial men and wealthy tourists their baggage; blit women and children are left to look, after themselves. The company should have a stewardess at the gangway to assist the lady passengers. For from what I saw on Friday last the women and children need not look for, much assistance from the men on this .boat. My object in drawing attention to this matter is that in. the future the women and children may receive a little more assistance at the gangways.—! am, etC ” POOE MAN. = Palmerston North, January ,15th. [The manager of the Union Company, Mr W. A. Kennedy, to whom the above complaint was referred, explained that the statements made were unfair and inaccurate. It is the custom, owing to the congested condition of the ferry service daring the summer months, to permit none but passengers to board the ferry vessels, to say nothing of, permitting this to be done, say. a quarter of an hour before a steamer sails. The stewards readily assist immediately a passenger steps on the gangway. Even if the complainant did call to several stewards to assist his wife, a little patience, the manager contends, would have obviated any grievance. The allegation .that the company’s staff on its steamers makes social distinctions in regard to tlie people they render service to is, says the manager, quite unwarranted.—Ed. "N.Z. Times.”]