To the Editor of the "Nort-Cama Dary News"
Sm—In answer to Smvrock's letter published on February 9 on "Bus Robberies," I would say that his idea of a handy bell-push which on being pressed would throw out a sign on the outside of the bus to the effect that robbers are inside, leaves itself open to a large amount of criticism.
First of all, should the sign be a secret sign only recognizable to policemen, then, even should a Policeman notice it, as the bus speeds by, which is unlikely if he is paying the proper amount of attention to his particular employment, it would not be possible for him to run fast, enough after the bus to catch it before its next stop; or even, taking the most favourable case, should the policeman happen to be just at the bus stop, what could ome officer of the Jaw do against a gang of desperadaes?
In order that the sign should be observed by 'a large number of policemen it must be a noisy sign. But the sight of a bus travelling at full speed along the road with a shrilling automatic screamer and a glaring sign of "Bandits Inside," would surely, far from raising a rescue party, rather cause a mighty panic and stampede and, a pretty quick and complete clearance of the street by the terrified public, leaving the said street quite empty for the safe escape of the robbers, Taking into consideration too the inhumane crowding of the buses of this civilized city, the pressing of the emergency button by mistake or for the sake of a joke would be of no rare occurrence, Two courses only are left open to slop this conversion of our respect-lable Shanghai into a grim Chicago.
have a great number of unfortunate unemployed in the city. Would it not be possible to make wage-earning citizens of these in return for. their services as permanent policemen on each bus?
"The second course would be for everyone to have in his or her pocketbook or handbag only just sufficient cash for the journey there and back, and to leave the family heirlooms' and crown jewels safely at home.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.