Bad Language in Railway Trains

Many complaints are being made of bad conduct in second-class carriages, on the line from Prince’s Bridge to Mordialloc. By an alteration in the time-table some months ago, the 5.30 p.m. train which now runs express to Caulfield, has to carry the passengers that travelled by the 4.45 train. This causes much discomfort, but when individuals come floundering into a crowded compartment the worse for liquor, and use language not fit for the lowest tap room, it is time that something was done to put a stop to it. A case of this nature occurred a few evenings ago when a man, whose name is witheld (sic) for the sake of his people, boarded the train and made himself very offensive, calling himself an Englishman and asserting in language, fit only for Billingsgate that the colonials were no good. On being remonstrated with and asked to be quiet, he became more abusive, and ended by taking off his coat and challenging all and sundry to fight, calling them colonial cowards for not doing so. At East Brighton, the station-master’s attention was called to the man’s conduct and a constable telephoned for. At Mentone, Constable Canty met the train and locked the individual up. On the following morning he was brought before Mr Ruse, J.P., and fined £1, or seven days imprisonment. The punishment was well deserved and, it is to be hoped, will act as a caution to others, for unfortunately, bad language is too frequent in second-class railway carriages. Why men, because they ride in a second-class carriage, should so far forget themselves as to use filthy and disgusting language in the presence of ladies and children, is one of the problems hard to solve.