ONE-MAN TRAMS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 732, 8 April 1933, Page 9

ONE-MAN TRAMS.

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —I think the inspector on duty at the Square on Wednesday night at 10.20 exceeded his duty in slamming the door of tram No. 4 in my face as I was about to board same.* I noticed the other passengers were held up at the entrance, and I then remembered it was pay-as-you-enter. I at once opened my bag, and it was not a case of fumbling about for my purse, as I only carried tram 'tickets and odd pence in the pocket of my bag, which would not have taken me a second to get out, when to my amazement the doors were slammed in my face. Naturally I was very upset, and thought there was no alternative but to walk. Of course I don’t know how long the tram had been held up before I arrived, but judging by the time it was held up at Cook and Ross’s corner, I should say quite a considerable time. As I walked leisurely along, looking at shop windows in passing and when reaching Minson’s crockery shop, I saw the same No. 4 tram standing there at Cook and Ross’s corner. Unfortunately, I had crossed over from the Square, otherwise I could have caught it without hurrying, but I did not attempt to cross as the motor traffic was very thick. As many of the cars were creeping along ready for the signal to go, I was afraid if I had attempted to cross through them, I would have been caught. So again I had to see it move off and counted the cars he’d up through the tram (fifteen in all). I felt anything but happy at the thought of my long walk, not being young and it raining. I reached Edgewart Road and met the same tram returning to town. I did not know when I started to walk whether that was the last tram or not, otherwise I would have waited. The great slogan of the tramways is use your trams. Why do they not see that every facility is given to encourage people to use them, and to insist that inspectors use their eyes to note that all is clear before blowing their whistles?—l am, etc., ELDERLY.