DANGEROUS CROSSING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 10

DANGEROUS CROSSING

MINISTER VIEWS CHURCH STREET WARNING SIGNAL PROMISED “The One Tree Hill Road Board, the Onehunga Borough Council and a coroner have ail pronounced this a dangerous crossing,” said Mr. W. J. Jordan, member for Manukau, yesterday afternoon, when introducing a deputation to the Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Railways, on the site of the level crossing in Church Street,, near Westfield. tJVHE deputation consisted of Messrs. R. G. Clark, J. Wood and I. J. Goldstine, members of the One Tree Hill Road Board. Mr. Jordan reminded the Minister that the crossing had been responsible for numerous accidents, two of which had occurred in the last few months; one had proved fatal. The road carried a heavy and rapidly-in-creasing traffic, not only of motor vehicles, but also ov cattle, and such was the configuration of the approaches that motorists could not see the trains until they were virtually on the crossing. Mr. Taverner: What does the local authority propose to do? Mr. R, G. Clark: In 1927 the department assured the board that an endeavour would be made to rectify the danger. Later on a suggestion was made to the board that it should pay half the expense of a subway costing £4,500, but the board had no funds for the work. A promise was then made by the department that a warning device would be installed, but apparently we shall have to wait until a few mere people are killed. The Minister said that this was not an isolated case, and a subway could not be provided unless the local bodyassisted. It was not a railway question, but a road question. Mr. Jordan pointed out that it was a double track, and instanced a case | where a driver in trying to dodge one I train was hit by another. , In reply to a question: Mr. H. H. S Sterling, general manager of railways, i said that a satisfactory signalling device could be installed for £250, and the Minister promised that he would have it erected without undue delay. Mr. Sterling favoured what is known as the Pearson device, an apparatus with revolving arms, which make intermittent contact with an electricbell on the opriroach of a train. The party then proceeded to the Penrose railway station, where Mr. Jordan drew the attention of the Minister to a series of intricate winding ramps and stairs as the only means whereby- the public could reach the railway platform from the main road. “How doss the Railway Department expect to attract business when such a Luna Park arrangement as this has to be attacked?” asked Mr. Jordan. He advocated a short subway from (he road to the platform, but Mr. Sterling expressed the opinion *hnt the expense cf a subway was not justified, as it would not attract any more passengers. The Minister, however, undertook to consult his engineers as to the probable cost of a subway and •would endeavour to devise a. better method for the convenience of the public. CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9.5 a.m. CHICAGO, Tuesday. Wheat.—May, 3 dollar 2J cents a bushel; July, 1 dollar 5 3-S cents; Sepember. 3 dollar 9 cents; December, 1 dollar 14 cents.