ROAD SIGNS BEING DESTROYED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 8, 5 October 1943, Page 4

ROAD SIGNS BEING DESTROYED

A.A. Committee Concerned REFERENCE TO WAVE OF

VANDALISM

A sack filled with broken road signs was provided at last night’s meeting of the council of the Automobile Association (Wellington) in support of a report which dealt with the wilful ‘destruction of signs. The chairman, Mr. 11. W. Shortt, said there was a wave of vandalism in various directions. The destruction of signs erected at dangerous places to prevent accidents and save lives was serious. The secretary, Mr. A. Sutherland, said that the destruction of signs was not peculiar to Wellington. There was no telling where the vandalism was going to stop, said Mr. E. Palliser, .roads committee chairman. ■When the greens were being relaid at the course of the golf club to which he belonged the slabs of turf were removed and thrown around. The roads committee report expressed concern at the damage being done to signs. Adjacent to Porirua and down to Titahi Bay five signs were broken; into pieces beyond repair. On the Paekakariki beach road there were three signs in pieces and nt Waikanae two large three-feet square boards were broken beyond repair. The condition of these signs suggested wilful damage not caused, as was often the case, by passing vehicles. Some of the signs were actually beyond the reach of a vehicle. There had been more damage than usual to signs recently and the matter must cause concern, particularly in relation to signs giving warning of danger. In this connexion particular reference was made to the signs nt Waikanae which gave warning of the one-way bridge. There had been many accidents oil this bridge and the association had to erect elaborate signs. Their destruction might cause serious accident. It was decided to seek die co-opera-tion of the police and the military authorities in preventing further damage to signs.