SOME INTERVIEWS.

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 46, 3 August 1907, Page 18

SOME INTERVIEWS.

UNPREJUDICED OPINIONS ON THE TRAHWAY BUSINESS.

[Note. — Following on the decision of the City Council not to allow straphangers, I have succeeded, at the expense of much personal damage, in interviewing several leading citizens on the subject. All the interviews are guaranteed to be entirely incorrect down to the most minute particular.]

NATURALLY, the first person whom I approached was Mr Arthur Rosser. I found Mr Rosser busily engaged in his trade as a carpenter. He is at present carrying out some structural alterations in the sand boxes on the cars. This, as he pointed out to me, is absolutely necessary. " The present style of box," he said, " is most uncomfortable to sit on — so, at least, I am told by persons of experience, although I have never tried them myself." hvoim . •' What do you think of the City Council's decision, Mr Rosser?" I asked. " Really," he replied, " I have taken very little interest in the matter. In fact, I do not understand why you should come to me at .all. An impression appears to have got abroad that I was responsible for the stand taken by the employees. That is quite anAstake. lam far too busily engaged working at my trade to bother my head about industrial disputes. Besides, lam naturally modest and unassuming. I may have been of some trilling assistance to Mr •Hiiusen in the past, but my efforts do not appear to have been appreciated by him. Personally, I have no objection to strap-hangers, but I think it is a mistake to allow people to sit on the sand boxes. 1 may say that Mr Hansen supports my opinion in this respect, hie informed me yesterday that he attributed most of his troubles to the face that he had permitted a section of the public to ride on the sand boxes. l>f course, the trouble is that the motormen are iond of indulging in intellectual conversation wilh kindred spirits, and so long as persons are allowed to ride on the sand boxes they are able to gratify their tastes in this direction, it is a most reprehensible practice, and should be put. a stop to at once in the ueu'a own interests. I have mentioned the matter to my friend Mr d'Aubhreau, aud he has promised to see that the practice is discontinued. Therefore, the thing, may be looked upon as done." Meeting Dr Stopford driving down Queen j street in his buggy, I ventured to stop him and ask for his opinion. " What do you think of it yourself ?" asked the doctor. " Well," I replied, " I think " " Have you ever been a Uity Councillor?" demanded the doctor, severely. " Mo, thank the Lo — I mean, no, I haven't." "Then you are not qualified to answer that question," he retorted. " Personally, 1 tail to see why people should want to use the cars at all. Speaking as a medical man (whose opinions have often been of much interest to the British Medicai Association), I consider that the present generation do not do half enough, talking. What, ior instance, could be. more healthy, after sitting in a theatre for three hours, than a nice, brisk walk to Kingsland, or Kemuera, or Onehunga ? People should v be only too pleased to use the means of ' /propulsion with which nature has provided them. Ab for the tramway employees, M&il to see why they should be compelled to pick xfp any passengers at all. It is only encouraging laziness. Next to humanised milk, there is no better tonic than plenty of walking exercise." ■■■ At this point, the doctor's horse took matters into its own baud, and carried tue doctor away at a pace that ' . roaue the nearest uiotoriuan blush. The next gentleman whom I. approached was His" Lordship the Mayoi.

" Good-day, Your Worship," I observed, as I intruded my head into his sanctum. " What do you think of the tramway business?" The Mayor sprang up and grasped the office poker. "Go away at once !" he said. "Go away, or I'll give you in charge ?" I retired in good order, and took refuge under the table, from which coign of vantage I continued the interview. "I see, Your Worship, , that by your casting vote you haye — " I drew my head in just an time to dodge the whirring poker. " The next person," said the Mayor, "who mentions that casting vote to me will be bung." ■" By a strap ? ' I inquired. "No," he retorted, "by a rope. And how did you get in here, anyway ? I gave Bennie strict orders not to admit anybody. However, now you're here, 1 may mention that I think the City Council were quite right in their decision. It is noc right that the shareholders of the tramway company should be allowed to fatten on strap-hangers. My idea is to have a local Tramway Board consisting of leading citizens who are free from all prejudice and animus in the matter. 1 think that if the Board was composed of men like Mr Arthur Rosser, Mr K. F. Way, Dr Stopford, Mr T. Beaston, and a few other disiuteresled and unprejudiced genilemen, Mr Hansen would have no cause for dissatisfaction." At this point, Mr Ben Myers very rudely burst into the room without knocking, with the announcement chat a deputation from the W.C.T.U. was waiting to interview His Worship on the subject of the abolition of barmaids. His Worship hastily escaped by the back entrance, and I judged it best to follow his example. Mr Ben Myers, with that intrepidity which / has always distinguished him in hunting up defaulting subscribers of the Old Thames Boys' Association, rashly remained behind. Latest advices from the hospital state that he is not yet out of danger. The members" of the W.C.T.U. are taking it in turns to sit at his bedside and read improving literature to him. His recovery is very uncertain. Crossing the street, I approached Mr Paul Hansen. His opinions on the subject under discussion, after having been revised and abridged with discretion, will be laid before the public. A stock of fireproof paper is being imported for the purpose. Interviews with several people who were waiting outside the theatre foran Onehunga car were productive of many original remarks. But Mr Skipper Bowden was kind enough to' express entire approval of the City Council's action. "Strap - hanging," remarked Mr Bowden, "is abhorrent to all truly • moral people. It. is the ruination of body and soul, and is productive of more misery than all other evils put together. The City Council's actioa should be endorsed by all lovers of horseflesh." Mr A. G. Mabee was also approached for' an interview, but, as he felt strongly enough on the subject . to threaten the interviewer witli a property tomahawk, the result was disappointing.