OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1939, Page 8

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

TRAFFIC CONTROL (To the Editor.) Sir. —In this evening's paper there appears a letter on traffic control written under the nom-de-plume “Safety First.'' This letter offers fair criticism and is constructive; yet our Town Clerk makes no comment because the writer remains anonymous. To my mind this is an easy way of sidestepping the issue, and the Town Clerk has evidentally followed up the lead given by another prominent citizen. For many reasons, business and other correspondents do not always like to sign their names. Surely the fact that the editor of this worthy and progressive paper has the writer s name is sufficient proof of good faith? On one occasion I had cause to write to a newspaper and in spite of the use of a nom-de-plume the Prime Minister at the time, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, did not feel it beneath him to favour the public with a reply. Mr Editor, I feel with “Safety First” that the time for pedestrian crossings is past due. We owe these to all pedestrians, especially women and children. Enough said. Criticism is not appreciated in Masterton it appears. This being anonymous will get no reply. However, I know many others feel the same as I do on the subject. —Yours, etc., “MOTORIST & TAXPAYER.” Masterton, August 25. The above letter was referred to the Mayor. Mr T. Jordan, who stated: “My opinion in regard to pedestrian crossings has not been altered; in fact, it has been strengthened by a recent decision of the English Court of Appeal that pedestrian crossings, which were intended to be a protection to pedestrians, are nothing less than a trap, as the Court has held that pedestrians are no more protected on marked crossings than on any other part of the street. There appears to be an impression in the minds of many people that a pedestrian crossing is a compulsory crossing. That is certainly not so.” Referring to a previous letter regarding traffic control, published last Friday, Mr Jordan said: “I have been in close touch with the Transport Department in connection with traffic control in this town and in other towns and the. opinion expressed by your correspondent is not shared by the Transport Department. Our ratio of motorcars to population is very nearly the highest in New Zealand and our accident ratio is almost the lowest. ‘General Rafferty’ appears to rule successfully here. As far as inspectors go, I know our inspector to be an exceedingly efficient and painstaking officer. If all offenders under multitudinous array of motoi’ regulations are to be pursued and brought to book then a fresh army will have to be mobilised.” SOVIET POLICY (To the Editor.) Sir, —Many confess complete surprise at the new German-Russian non-ag-gression agreement. According to reports, both England and France are stunned by the news. But, as a man in the street, who thinks a little, I want to say that the event fails to surprise me, knowing as I do the true character of Russia’s rulers and the ambition of the Comintern. The Comintern is bent on world proletarian revolution —to this end, the Communists have declared every means to be valid, not excluding duplicity. In view of these facts the German-Russian agreement must appear as a big step forward in the cause of Bolshevism. —I am, etc., E. G. TAPP. Masterton; August 26.