CUNNING CAR-LINE COVES.

NZ Truth, Issue 66, 22 September 1906, Page 6

CUNNING CAR-LINE COVES.

The employer now-a-days thinks his men should slave much harder than they do ; that they loaf far too much, and that they are far too independent and all that sort of. thing. But the Christchurch Tramway Board are^' cunning, dogs ; they want no ca canny on their jobs ; and a brand new system has been inaugurated which knocks spots off the old one. It is a gem and no mistake, and the genius who invented it deserves the tin of salmon. The men work eight hours a day, and only twice m that time are they allowed to smoke. There are two "smokos," one m the morning, and t'other later m the day,' and the watch is put on them for seven mm* utes, during which time they have tb draw, like the devil and have a supply of matches before the start. It Was considered that too much time was lbst m cutting up tobacco, and borrowing matches, and spitting previously, so the new idea was brought up and is acting all right. But not only that but no talking is allowed on the line unless it is on a matter of business, and the chap is kept slogging all day, ' and if he says "Ef'm" he gets- instant sack and no humbug. If he made a shorter exclamation than that he would probably be fired, much quicker. If they say "Good-day" to anyjbody on the street, or sneezed twice consecutively God help them, they are doomed. There is compensation for these restrictions, of course ; the men get paid better, but they feel like a lot of prisoners under a warder. The work is being done very much quicker, but speechless gangs of workmen ' m the street are something of a curiosity. The idea is said to have origi- ; nated m the fertile brain of Engineer Chamberlain ; if so, they should be styled "Chamberlain's Dummies."