A NECESSARY SAFEGUARD?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 May 1939, Page 8

A NECESSARY SAFEGUARD?

(To the Editor.) Sir,—In tonight’s issue of your paper I read with considerable interest an article headed “Piece of Impertinence.” For sheer, unadulterated humbug it takes a world of beating. The citizens of this town pride themselves on the fact that they live in one of the most enlightened and progressive towns in Nev.' Zealand, yet here we are without what is now considered to be an absolutely necessary adjunct to a progressive community, namely pedestrian crossings, all because our worthy Mayor says they are not necessary. Is his to be the last word on the matter or are the parents of children and the mothers with prams and little children to have some say? It is a positive nightmare for parents with children to attempt to cross at the Post Office and Perry Street intersections most times during the day, due to. the lack of proper control. I would suggest to the members of the Works and Finance Committee and the Mayor that _ they try crossing at the places mentioned in company with the children. Perhaps they then will have a practical idea of the seriousness of the position. Crossings are also urgently needed at the Central School corner, at the Lansdowne School opposite the school and at the corner of Faulkner’s Service Station. Three times during the day the number of children who irresponsibly run risks at the abovementioned places is legion. For one that has spent some time watching these danger spots it appears that so far the hand of Providence has been very much in evidence, but we cannot trust to Providence for ever. The Central School Committee are to be heartily congratulated on their attitude in the matter of pedestrian crossings and I trust that they will not desist in their efforts to have them put down in spite of the article I am referring to. In fact all the school committees could well follow their example. , The Mr Stringer referred to by Mr Jordan is, for the edification of himself and the general public, recognised as one of the most capable traffic officers in the country, his official title being “The Road Traffic Instructor for Schools.” As evidence of the most important and necessary work performed by Mr. Stringer, it is only necessary to state that in his recent report to the Wellington Education Board he submitted figures showing that since September last he had visited seventy-four schools and had delivered road safety talks to 22,500 pupils, in addition to showing films on the same subject. Now here is a man, performing work of national importance under the guidance of Mr Laurenson. Commissioner of Transport, who has also asked the Masterton Borough to lay down pedestrian crossings being snubbed for reasons ... In conclusion. I trust that this matter will be taken up by the citizens in a manner that will leave o.ur city fathers in no doubt as to what is the consensus of opinion among those of us who appreciate the difficulties of children, aged people and mothers with children. As a motorist myself I am safe in saying that the majority of those who use cars would welcome the laying down of crossings as is done in other progressive towns. — Yours, etc., R. N. SHAW. Masterton, May 17.