Ramps Criticised

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 6

Ramps Criticised

! Why Not Crossing-keepers TO GIVE SUSTENANCE MEN JOBS Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Last Night. Objections to the building of an overhead railway ramp at the Lorneville level crossing were expressed by the monthly meeting of the Southland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union mainly on t score of expense. Reference was made to the need for making travel on New '’’'"land roads safer, but it was thought that the Government would be better advised to avoid the heavy expenditure of building ramps throughout the Dominion and employ as many men on sustenance as possible as crossing keepers. Mr. R. Sim said, acting on the instructions of the last meeting of the executive, he and the secretary had discussed the site of the Lorneville ramp with officers of the Public Works Department. It had been explained that the erection of the ramp on the present road line would interfere with the entrance to the Lorneville stock yards, to the railway station and to several houses close to the road. Mr. W. H. Ward: There seems to be far more money being spent there than is necessary'. We have to watch these things because there is always a tendency to extravagance when someone has a hand in the public purse. Apart from the question that 40 chains of the present road are being wasted and a big cut being made into valuable land it should be debated whether it is wise to do so much of that type of work now. There are many men on sustenance not fit for heavy work but quite fit to take positions as crossing-keepers. New Zealand is short of houses and the ground that is being taken in at Lorneville would provide sites for a number of homes. One man could attend to that crossing and the heavy expense of building the ramp is going to come back to the land. If that sort of thing is going on all over the Dominion regardless of expense it is a matter that should be taken up by the Dominion executive. Mr. D. Macdonald supported the suggestion that unfit men on sustenance should be employed as crossing keepers. The chairman (Mr. G. A. Hamilton) agreed that it would be wise to suggest to the department the employment of crossing-keepers instead of building expensive ramps. Mr A. H. McLean; There are other crossings where ramps are more necessary than at Lorneville. What about those in the city and even that at One Tree Point ?? A sober motorist should never hit a train at Lorneville. The view is so clear that even a drunken driver should never be in trouble there. “Years ago Australian level crossings were guarded by gates, ’’ said Mr T. Major, “and perhaps that would be the cheapest system now. However, ramps seem to be most popular in other countries and most effective. 0 There is very much more traffic nowadays, and it is necessary that a permanent solution to the problem of the heavy toll of life on the roads should be found, 0 he said. “We have had more expensive undertakings than these ramps and the Government stated that the crossings are being taken in order and that a thorough programme is being carried out. Our discussion has nothing in the way of a permanent solution to offer and the question of safety on roads is one of the first importance. 0 The following resolution was carried: ‘‘That this executive draws attention to the apparently huge expenditure incurred at the Lorneville overhead railway crossing and recommends that as a matter of policy the Government utilise the unemployed labour at present on sustenance on present level crossings as crossing-keepers instead of incurring a huge capital expenditure on overhead ramps. °