ANGYLE STREEL CROSSING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 238, 28 December 1927, Page 13

ANGYLE STREEL CROSSING

•ONE OF WORST IN N.Z.” PROTEST to covernment AUCKLANDERS’ OPINIONS Auckland citizens, particularly those interested in the welfare of women and children, are keenly concerned with the danger of level crossings on railway lines within the cityA strong protest regarding the Argyle Street crossing, where Mrs. Ethel Brittain lost her life under nartieularly distressing circumstances on Saturday, has been forwarded to the Government by Mr. y, H. Potter, M.P. for Roskill. Mr. E. Casey, divisional superintendent of railways for the North Island, says that these crossings are being dealt with in order of urgency. He could give no indication, however, what place the Argyle Street crossing held on the list. Citizens on being invited by THE SUN to-day to express their views, replied: — Mr. Potter, M.P. (under the * iteration in the boundaries of Auckland constituencies the crossing will be in Mr. Potter’s electorate): “I am in possession of the full facts of the case, aa d have already forwarded a strong protest to the Government. “To my mind the initial cost of malting this crossing, and others in the city, safe for citizens is infinitesimal when life is actually at stake. I hope that the public will make a strong protest on this occasion, for if something is not done there will assuredly be other accidents. It is one of the worst crossings in the Dominion." Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P.: "There is not the slightest doubt that any level i-rossing which constitutes a danger to the public, and apparently Argyle Street is one of these, should be amply safeguarded by the Department. PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST “Of course, we realise that it would be impossible to do away with all the level crossings in the Dominion, on account of the prodigious expense involved. Yet in the really dangerous ones, which are undoubtedly a menace to public safety, something should be done. “Talking of level-crossings, though, what could be more dangerous than the one at the bottom of Queen Street?” Councillor Alice Basten (National Council of Women): “To my mind it is positively criminal to permit such dangerous crossings to remain as they are. Surely human life is more precious than the outlay required to make these places safe! I feel certain that if the women throughout the country -not merely in Auckland—seriously took up this question of dangerous level crossings the Government would be forced to act. “A* far as children are concerned these mechanical warnings do not seem to have the slightest effect.” Mrs. W. H. Parkes (president Plunket Society): “There is not the slightest doubt that every safeguard should be given mothers and children in the city. Every organisation interested in their welfare must take this view. Where level crossings are dangerous to life every safeguard should be available.” Rev. P. S. Smallfield (Society for the Protection of Women and Children): “I feel quite certain that my committee regards these dangers to women and children at level crossings with considerable dismay. This is a very important question. There is not the slightest doubt they should be made perfectly safe.”