A CAR FOR EVERY HOME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 25, 13 February 1937, Page 6

A CAR FOR EVERY HOME

-Preas Association.)

■ ■ 11 ■ Mjr Semple's Hope When Roads Are Safer MODES OF CONTROL

(By Telexraph-

INYERGARGILL-, Last Night. *'The whole question of motor control ti being reviewed with the object of kimplifying the present complicated jlystem," said Hon. R. Semple, MinisIter of Transport, in an interview on his krrival in. Invercargill this afternoon. .The xoada are being made much Bafer (with "the object of encouraging people jto use them and of preserving human jiife," he added. "A simple national jsystem of - control is being adopted in iplace of the former complicated jsystem of local restrictions under whicli jneither a motorist nor anyone else jjoaew his - responsibilities. Far reaching jpropojala are being carried out for imjproving, -widening • and straightening [the highways of the Dominion and all these proposala are aimed at promoting jthe development of all .forms of motor Itraniport."One of the main points of the Gov- J jernmenfi policy is to gromote the best (roada poasible for motoring and to enbure that these roads are not death kraps. By this policy it is hoped that jthe benefits of science in the form. of itHe modern car, may be enjoyed by all » citizens ia this country. Personally 1 would like to see a motor car for every family. •*" TfezM Divisions of Control. "As I visualise the position at prejsent it seems desirable that there jshould be three main divisions of traf* jfic -control," conti-.ued Mr. Semple. r'These should, be: — / ■ "Firstly,four main metropolitan disjkricts where traffic inspectors should be junder one control in each district. iThese, districts will comprise the four main eities and surrounding centres Which, for .ihe purposes of motor traffic jeontrol, may be regarded as single "Seeondly, boronghs .with populations |»f 6000 and over which will .. control , itheir own traffic. "Thirdly, smaller towns and rural iareas which will be under a national cystem of control. The Hajor Problem First. "I wish to refer particularly at thf jmoment to the four metropolitan disjtricts. No less than approximately 35 jper eent. of the total motor vehicles in jNew" Zealand. are located in these disItmcts and. they are areas of greatest jtraffic density. During the last seven jyeers approximately 40 per cent. of . the jffctal accidents have occurred in these jereaa It will therefore be readily ap* jpreciated that if we are to aim at safer roads and streets we must have the most efficient system of control it is jpossible to, obtain in these areas. It seems to me that with the whole of the cnforcement staff in each district under one control, the system would be uniifonn and elastic and more efficient than jthe present diversiiied control. I feel confident that a unified system of traffic .control will.result in much better traffic conditions and will be a big step in the idirection of coping with the road acci* -dent problem," said Mr. Semple whe lconcluded by ref erring to the spirit of helpfulnest and co-op#ration on Mp taart of the bulk of the motoring public.