"HOME, JAMES!"

NZ Truth, Issue 1144, 3 November 1927, Page 4

"HOME, JAMES!"

Auckland's Transport

Troubles

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Rep.) If the ratepayers of the Queen City threw anything m the direction of the city stepfathers, it is safe to say that they would not look for the wherewithal m the flower garden, but the poultry yard and the vegetable plot, when it comes to a matter of transport. TN fact, since their august mayor — - 1 with the aid of Orders -in- Council and the judiciary — has blown all opposition off the thoroughfares, they have displayed their ability as organizers of traffic facilities m a manner which leaves nothing to the imagination. Not only are the Glen Eden buses overcrowded by passengers who only travel as far as Point Chevalier, but they do not adhere to the time-table, and such is their hurry to make the bus traffic pay that they start before time very frequently. Weary bread-winners on their way home the other evening at 5.30 entered a Council bus displaying the sign of Glen Eden. On arriving at the termination of the concrete stretch about a mile from their destination, the Council driver, who is not noted for his urbanity of manner, announced that "this was where they got off." Another bus would be coming along m a few minutes and they, would have to transfer. This did not meet with the approval of the passengers and they indicated to the Jehu that the bus was showing the Glen Eden sign and that to Glen Eden they were going. "Home, James!" was the order of more than one of the victims of this civically — but not civilly — conducted transport service. "James" refused to budge, but buried his face m his tickets and simulated a vast attention to checking up his figures. The travelling public can at times be as pig-headed as the autocratic body who govern their coming and going — and they sat tight. , The driver of the car continued to bury his face m his tickets and was still so engaged when another bus for Glen Eden sped past and was away and gone before the driver woke up to the fact. "Home, James!" murmured a fresh young man m the bus — and, behold, James had no option but to take his cargo of gurgling- passengers te their destination.