Request Stops

On Our Job, Issue 7, 1 March 1944, Page 3

Request Stops

TWO trammies who are back on the A job again after months in the Air Force and the Army are Alf. Hawkins, of Kilbirnie, and Jack Winters, of Thorndon. We are pleased to have them both back with us. Saw one of the recent returned trammies from the East doing a spot of conducting on Seatoun. He was looking at the State houses with envious eyes, so we said to him, “Well, Jack, we guess you. will be going off the deep end soon.’’ “Too right,” he said. “When?” we asked. “Most likely on June 21,” he replied. So that is all we know about it in the meantime, but he picked a good day, for we understand that June 21 is the shortest day, and of course the longest night. ❖ * * The two custodians at Lambton messroom are ex-Motorman Percy (Stiffy) Wilcox and “Nugget” Winter. These two hard doers are well known in their new job and we find it hard to put anything over them. Malcolm Beaton is back at work again, although we are not certain for how long. Mai. says he is on extended leave without pay, so we hope it will be for some time. Another of our young conductors has left the service and that is Allen King, son of Motorman Joe King, of Newtown. Allen is now in the Navy and we wish him all the best in his new job. Allen was a good athlete and figured prominently in many branches of sporting activities. He played a good game of golf, cricket and Rugby, and as vicecaptain of the Recreation Club, played a big part in the table tennis team which did so well in the recent provincial championships. He also took an active part in our relay teams, his speed being a big asset on several occasions. Good luck, Allen. We hope to have you back with us soon. You had better help to get this war over quickly, as we are not the only ones who want to see you back, especially one of our young lady conductors who is pining her heart out. Another of our conductors who was called up at the start of the war for garrison duty was Roy Schon. He is still attached to this duty and is looking real well. We had a letter from him recently and he sends his regards to all. ❖ * * Mrs Jepson, mother of Conductor Edgar Jepson, of Newtown Sheds, who is now serving in the Middle East, called around to see our secretary the other day. Alf took the opportunity of showing her some of the work that the Com-

forts Committee has been doing for the lads away, and a little'later Mrs Jepson forwarded a beautiful supper cloth to be raffled to assist the committee’s funds. Those who have seen the cloth, to be raffled in the near future, are all keen to win it. This is a wonderful gesture and certainly one appreciated by everyone. To Mrs Jepson we all extend our sincere thanks for her great kindness. ❖ sj: We were talking to Conductor Harry Ingram last week. He is starting back on April 20. Harry was a staff sergeant in the artillery on Norfolk Island, and he says he is pleased to be able to get back. Called up in the very early days when war was declared for garrison duty, Harry has been away from us for a long time no\v, and we welcome him home again. ♦ * * In our last issue we told you we were expecting Andy McLean home. We have much pleasure in saying that Andy is now home and we all look forward to renewing his acquaintance. S: * You boys who write home and tell us how you would like to be back here with all these lady conductors, will be interested to know that there are now more than 200 young ladies punching tickets. There are also a large number of ladies engaged in car cleaning in all the sheds. These girls are doing a great job of work and we’re mighty proud of them. * ❖ The Comforts Committee has learned that many of you chaps serving overseas have wives who have jobs that want doing around their homes. Now, the committee cannot commit themselves to undertake to do any major job, as its hands are more than full already endeavouring to do all it can in its limited time for you, but Motorman Dick Gadd is endeavouring to raise a scheme whereby he and any other willing workers will be able to help your wives. If therefore you know that your wife could do with some assistance and you think that Dick and his gang could do the job for you, will you please advise Alf. Burns when next you write and he will pass the information on to Dick. This is indeed a worthy effort on Dick’s part and we hope that he will have no trouble in getting a good gang of mates to help him do something for our cobbers away. Certainly we know it will not be for the want of trying by Dick Gadd. Now then, chaps, don’t be backward in asking. Back on the job again is Conductor Jimmy Bloomfield, who has been in the Merchant Navy for some time. Ashore

once more, his old love called, so he applied for a job on the trams again and was accepted. Jim has often been called Nelson Eddy, and we have often heard comments on the likeness, especially when Jim has his hat off, showing his blonde locks. We can’t say he has a voice like Nelson Eddy, but Jim has a good voice and was in one of our local radio trials a few years ago. * * * The Secretary of the Bus Drivers’ Social Club, George Langley, has asked us to convey his club’s thanks to all who volunteered and assisted to make their picnic the undoubted success it was. We can only say in return that we feel sure that everyone was only too pleased to take part in an activity such as this that gives enjoyment to so many. * * Two of our lady conductors recently completed a bicycle tour of the South Island. It shows how venturesome our girls are that when the rail restrictions were imposed it did not stop them from having a holiday. These two girls, Avis Lees and. Kay Lutherus, took the boat to Nelson and biked to the Glaciers, back to Hokitika, took the train to Christchurch owing to terrible weather, then pedalled from Christchurch to Dunedin. The girls thoroughly enjoyed their experiences and said that it was a wonderful trip. ' The Dunedin trammies put them on a great fuss and gave them a good time. Kay said that the news of their bicycling through the South Island seemed to proceed well ahead, of them and when they arrived in various townships quite a few of the locals turned out to see them. Avis came a spill in the Buller Gorge, but it was nothing serious. She was the Jonah of the trip as far as punctures, for she collected four. Kay caught sunstroke and. had to have medical treatment, but she said that what embarrassed her most was when bicycling through Christchurch, she came a spill,, and of all things, it was on a tram line. They arrived home three days late owing to the shipping restrictions, fit and well, plus a few souvenirs in the way of scars picked up through their spills. * * A STORY SCENE: Tram pulled up at Patrick’s O corner. A sweet young thing had just got off, after saying a few words to the motorman about how hot the weather was, etc. With that, the door flies open and a wise-cracking conductor bawls out through a seated load, “What have you got that I haven’t got?” And like lightning came the quick retort, “Soap.” Bang went the door, amidst numerous chuckles from the passengers.