ABUSE OF HOSPITALITY.
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The London omnibus companies have been subjected to a certain amount of imposition on the part of those wearing uniforms in respect of free travel on the motorbuses during the past week. In one case an inspector followed two Territorials who were joy riding for no less than 4 hours continuously, and there have been instances of people claiming to. ride for nothing who wore uniforms which could be identified with nothing more military or naval than a cinematograph palace.
Surely it is not the official intention to place the London motorbus service, which is so vital to the public's interests, at the disposal of the Territorials in London for joy-riding purposes'? We learn of a motorbus which went from Cricklewood to Victoria return for a total, although loaded all the way, of Is. 7d. fares received. The rest were men in uniform taking the air at the company's expense. It should be clearly understood that the privilege is extended to facilitate such men going to and from their homes and making necessary journeys, but the public should not be crowded out and seriously inconvenienced, and the company put to a loss because of cases such as those we have mentioned, and there have been many hundreds of them. It must not be forgotten that a great number of Territorials are found to be refusing to take this advantage, and to be insisting on paying their fares like ordinary passengers, and all credit to them. Captain Thome, the officer commanding the West London recruiting depot, made a complaint in the West London Police Court, on Friday last, that the omnibus companies were refusing to carry recruits free who were not in uniform, but who carried their blue recruiting forms. He claimed that each of these men is as much a soldier as if he were in uniform. The Clerk of the Court pointed out that it was an act of grace on the part of the bus companies to offer to carry uniformed men free, with which the magistrate agreed. He advised Captain Thorne to make application to the head office of the company. The facilities offered by the bus companies are prompted by praiseworthy public spirit and every effort should be, made to prevent their being abused. The "Terrors " as a whole would deprecate it. we feel sure.