MANNERS ON RAILWAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 277, 23 November 1936, Page 10

MANNERS ON RAILWAYS

npHE paternalistic, didactic spirit in which Government departments and the police look after the manners and morals of the people in Japan has just found a new illustration in a code of instructions to travellers which has been issued by the Railway Department. Incidentally, some of the seven points of this “code” cast a light on certain Japanese travel habits which are apt to strike the foreigner as strange and, in some cases, mildly annoying. The seven commandments of the Railway Department are as follows: (1) It is objectionable for one person to attempt to occupy a s?at for two, especially when the train is crowded, by putting a package beside him or by having a friend who came to see

him off sit beside him until the HaW starts. (2) It is an especially bad practicj to pretend to be asleep when the guarg tells you to make room for other pai ’ Eengers. '[ (3) Barents will be grateful if I • child is given a seat. It is also cony mendable to assist older people. Oil the other hand, aged passengers should rot force others to help them. (4) Dirty clothing makes it nnp!cas» ant for others in the car. (5) Women should refrain fronj changing their clothes in a train. (6) Passengers in groups who sin-; at night are not welcome. (7) People should be quiet in a - b ’ p*. ing-car. They should not go into o'!:..qA cars, especially the dining-car, in m