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THE EDITOR:Sir,—I am glad to see that at last someone, (to wit, Mr. Masri), has boldly and publicly censured the reckless and negligent manner in which some of the ‘town’ omnibuses are operated.Have you ever ridden in the Scenic Railway at Coney Island? And did you enjoy it? Never mind old chap, sorry I asked! Well, it has nothing over a ‘ride’ in one of these ’buses.Apart from this recklessness thereare other ills.The ’buses are supposed to run in time as by schedule. Do the majority of them'’ They wait at this or that terminus till whatever time the tram car may arrive, ‘turn’ and start off again, then away they rush after it, and pass it going at top speed, exultantly, and when they have left it behind a good distance, they crawl along at funeral pace. If the terminus is at a spot to which tram car lines do not extend, they ‘put up’ till another ’bus tomesand drives them away.If their ’bus is filled, they hurtle away furiously, putting the passengers in fear for their lives. I state without fear of contradiction that many of them round corners at fully 35 m.p.h. Thov take absolutely no notice of the protests of the trembling passengers.Another thing. It does not matterhow overcrowded the ’bus may be;every seat may be filled, three and sometimes four people may be ‘sar-dined’ into one seat, and the ‘aisle’ packed with those standing up, yet they stop and pick up more people; should they happen to be female, some city-worn, dead-tired man. must rise and give up his seat to the so ‘delicate’ female of the species—yes, must—for often the conductor requests you directly to give it up, and becomes impertinent should you be unmanly enough to refuse; and too, before the passenger enters, though he knows the ’bus is bursting with human bodies, this ticket boy calls out (I quote him word for word): “Go roun to de front Ladee! dere are plenty ob room,” a far from subtle suggestion that some man must resign his seat.Most of the conductors are impolite and designedly impertinent. Once in the ’bus, they treat passengers in the most off-hand and familiar manner (is it because you are in their debt toll you pay (he munificent sum of twopence?) — patting ladies on the shoulder and calling gentlemen by sopne familiar patois nickname, when they wish to draw their attention to the fact that they are ready to collect fares; having done so, chattering with their fellows and thereby not noticing that one has given the signal that one has reached his destination, till one is carried far past his stopping places; then suddenly they awake to hear your frenzied cries: there is a screeching and grinding of brakes, the creaking body of the ’bus leaps forward obeying the laws of too-suddenly arrested motion, while the chassis under the influence of fully applied brakes strains backward, and between these two opposing forces you are hurtled from one part of the ’bus to another; you stumble out shaken and bewildered, a sadder, a pained, and I hope, a wiser man.I am sure that neither the owners of these ’buses, nor the Transport Board are aware of all these ‘extras’ or ‘brawtas’ being dealt out to passengers: if they did, doubtless they would raise the fares, under business principles.From out the regions of the subconscious, I lift to the staata of memory, the fact that during our recent ‘honourable’ political campaign, these Trnses (or their owners) were fervent supporters of (the now Honourable) Mr. Simpson, O.B.E.—and I distinctly remember them crying loudly against, ‘big business’, ‘monopoly’, and such other words and catch-phrases with who meanings they were equally unacquainted, but till they become big business (that is to say, properly organized and tended business). I greatly fear that we shall find refuge and remedy in nothing but curses, sighs, inward quak-ings, sickness, and what not. Maybe you are now saying, “the above sounds like an attack of indigestion.” You are right; mental and physical indigestion, sometimes known as an omnibus.I am, etc., KEITH MARCH.Sir,—We have read with interest your leading article, entitled “Lord Moynihan’s View.” which appeared in yesterday’s Gleaner, and, in regard to the reference therein to passenger sh*p facilities between Jamaica and England, we wish to point out that the Pacific Line (The Pacific Steapn Navigation Company) for whom we are agents, run an excellent service of ships of large tonnage, which not early offer a splendid means of travel between Jamaica and England (each way), but offer an attractive itinerary, including calls at Havana, Nassau, Bermuda,Spain and France.The service in question is advertised regularly in your paper, and we would especially draw your attention to the sailing of the “Orduna” on the 12th December next from England, which is an ideal date for the commencement of next tourist season.I am. etc..C. W. VARNEY.8, Port Royal Street.Kingston, February 21, 1935.Exhibition By JamaicansTHE EDITOR:Sir,—Yesterday I dropped in at your Picture Exhibition. Admirable, if one has the taste for that expression of Art. suggestive in some respects of Matisse, whose work has recently drawn much attention in New York, and alsoof the Neo-Ecole.Let me confess that I am not over enthusiastic of either the Impressionists or the Ultra-Realists. What inspires this letter, however, is to inquire if you have no Jamaican artists whose work in oils, crayons and water colours, would be worthy of an Exhibition under the highest local patronage0 If so it would certainty be an excellent advertisement of Jamaica to show visitors what Jamaicans are capable of doing in interpreting their Island in those three media. Cannot something be done in this direction while your Royal Princes are here and your tourist season in full swing? I feel sanguine that it would be successful.I am, etc.,C. T. MASON. South Camp Road Hotel,February 22. 1935Duke Of Gloucester To PlayPoloTHE EDITOR:Sir,—In the Polo Notes which appeared in the Gleaner on Saturday last under the signature, “S.C.B.” a graveerror was made in the date given when His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester will attend the “At Home' at Knutsford Park which will be given by the Kingston Polo Club. The proper .inle is March 15th not March 6th.Mr. Victor Nunes, the Secretary of (he Kingston Polo Club has pointed out this mistake and has asked me to get the following notice published in the Gleaner:“Members and guests are reminded that the Polo “At Home” at Knutsford Park, on the occasion of the visit of His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, which was originally arranged for the 26th February, has now been officially fixed for the 15th March.“Tickets (and invitations already issued hold good for this date.“Advance tickets for the Knutsford Park stand and cars parked on the grounds, may be obtained from Issa’s, The Hub, Jamaica Times, Standard Furnishing Coy., and Dixie Doodle Luncheonettee.”I must apologise for the mistake and ask you to publish this.I am, etc .S. C. BURKEFebruary 23, 1935.The Poor Man As Taxpayer31 Duke Street. Kingston,February 21. 1935THE EDITOR:Sir,—Is the taxpayer in this countrywho pays thirteen shillings and four-pence per annum overtaxed0 Let us face the subject in a calm businesslike manner, free from sentiment, or prejudice. Thirtelt; n rhillings and fourpcnce is equal to threepence per week. Now what does the ‘axpayer get in return for his threepence per week? The Government, at the cost of the»other tax-navers. provides him with free educa-
Newspaper Details
Kingston Daily Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Mon, Feb 25, 1935
Page 12
Full Page
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JM 02 Oct 2022
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