THE CAVERSHAM BUS SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24854, 2 March 1942, Page 6

THE CAVERSHAM BUS SERVICE

TO THE EDITOR Sir—As a frequent traveller on the Caversham bus route I wish to bring to your notice a grievance which, although I believe it has been referred to the department, steadily goes on along with the war saving of petrol, etc. Yesterday afternoon I had occasion to travel along with a few other passengers by a bus which left town about 4 p.m., and as usual ran to Lookout Point. A lady entered afterwards and paid her fare to Forbury Corner. Another lady shortly after this entered and said “Forbury Corner.” She was promptly refused by the driver, and he called out to the earlier passenger who had paid her fare that the first stop was at Marion street. The notice to this

effect was not displayed until after the fares of several passengers had been accepted. Why cannot these halfway notices be displayed on the sides of the buses along with destination signs instead of in the front, or even as well as on the front? I have many a time seen old folk peering to find out what the destination of the bus is, and, in one or two instances, some of these drivers, instead of being helpful, think it a. joke that passengers find it difficult to see where the buses are going. I would ask also whether.the drivers have no discretionary powers. This bus to which I refer carried a handful of passengers, but it left women standing in thes rain, with no southbound car in sight. Surely the driver could have filled up the bus, because even when we reached Caversham it was far from full. It behoves the management to instil into the minds of its employees that they- are the servants of the public, and that courtesy and politeness should be practised by them evep though they have not bothered about it in the past, and that they should endeavour to uphold a tradition which is supported by the remaining few of the old members of the service.—l am, etc., Frequent Passenger. . Dunedin, February 26. [The manager of the Transport Department had no comment to make on this letter when it was referred to him.—Ed. O.D.T.]