NOT FOR MASTERTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1938, Page 4

NOT FOR MASTERTON

SYSTEM OF PEDESTRIAN . CROSSINGS COUNCIL REJECTS PROPOSAL Masterton is to have no pedestrian crossings in the immediate future, a move by Councillor R. Russell to have the system introduced in’Queen Street being defeated at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. Councillor Russell said that pedestrian crossings were long overdue in Masterton. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan: “Can you tell me when we had a pedestrian ac--1 cident in Queen Street last.” Councillor Russell: “That is not to say we will not have one.” Mr Jordan: “No, but it is an indication that things are not very bad,” Councillor Russell moved that crossings be instituted from Hallenstein’s to Ninnes’s, the Post Office to Pither’s, the Midland Hotel to. Keen’s and from Page’s to Gordon’s. Councillor G. W. Morice seconded the motion, observing that it was difficult for local motorists to become accustomed to driving in towns where there were no pedestrian crossings. Councillor H. E. Gardner supported the motion and said they did nqt want to wait until a pedestrian got killed or a serious accident occurred before they instituted the system. Councillor J. Ninnes: “If you are going to do the job, why not go the whole hog, and spread them all along the street?” . . . . . . . Councillor A. D. Low: “Even allowing for the size of Masterton, I do not think that the volume of traffic calls for pedestrian crossings.” The Borough Engineer, Mr C. R. Mabson, said that unless there were any real means of enforcing the use of the crossings they only created a sense of false security. To do that it would be necessary to have several inspectors on duty. In Wellington the only crossings of any value were the ones, equipped with traffic lights. In the other cases people were only walking in a fools’ paradise. Mr Jordan said Masterton had a very high ratio of motor cars, but' stood very low in the ratio of street accidents. The essence of the traffic problem in a narrow street like Queen Street was to get the vehicles through as speedily as possible. He. would say leave well alone. The mere fact that other towns had crossings cut no ice with him. Except where there were lights the crossing in Wellington constituted a danger. When the motion had been declared lost, Councillor Russell remarked: “Well, if there is an accident the council is to blame.” Mr Jordan, “Tut, tut.”