TRAFFIC CONTROL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 266, 22 August 1936, Page 9

TRAFFIC CONTROL

NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL. BODY TO CONSIDER PROBLEMS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 21. After a discussion occupying about five hours a conference called by the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) held in Wellington to-day to discuss problems of traffic control and ways of reducing the accident rate on New Zealand roads, decided that a National Safe ty Council should be set up to advise on all questions of road safety. The confeience was the largest of its kind evei held in the Dominion, there being 200 delegates, representative of local bodies, motorists’ organisations, educational organisations, several Government departments, the Churches and the New Zealand Alliance. The purpose of the National Safety Council, which will probably consist of 10 members, to be appointed by the Minister, is to investigate all questions of road safety and advise the Minister. The council will have' power to set up sub-commit-of specialists on any specific problem on which it may require information. The conference also agreed that a committee should be set up to investigate the effects of alcohol on motorists, this being a subject on which there was a good deal of discussion. All the recommendations and suggestions made by the conference will be taken into careful consideration by the Transport Department in the preparation of such legislation and regulations as it may deem advisable to introduce in bringing about greater safety on the roads of the Dominion.

Minister’s Address. “It is our responsibility and also the public responsibility to save the lives of the people,” Mr Semple said during an address to the conference. The Minister said that the people of New Zealand were sympathetic, but they had not protested because they didnot know what was happening. New Zealanders were being killed one by one, and no one knew. He had called the conference to bring that fact home to everyone, and to prevent the tragedy of tho roads from growing. As more cares went on to the road the death list increased, and if they kept on as they were going, there would be twice 350 killed a year soon. The number of cars on the roads of New Zealand was increasing at the rate of 100 a day, and as the number of vehicles increased, the number of accidents was hound to increase, unless better control were obtained, on all ,roads. During the last few weeks there had. been eight eases of “hit-and-run driving, continued the Minister. In New South Wales it had been necessary to appoint special detectives to deal particularly with “hit-and-run” drivers. In America a special force, costing thousands of pounds annually, had been set up to run to earth “hit-and-run” diivers. “A man in charge of a car who hits a fellow citizen, whether it is his fault or not, and leaves him lying, is not only a coward; he is a potential murderer. I have no mercy for a man of that kind. The maximum penalty for a man who did that when I took office was a fine of £2O or three months’ imprisonment. I have lifted the penalty to five years imprisonment or a fine of £500.”

Support for Government. Mr E. A. Batt (president of the Automobile Association, Wellington), moved the following resolution: “This conference views with grave alarm the present heavy toll of the .road and expresses unanimous support of the Government in all measures it may take to bring about greater safety in the use of our streets and highways.” This was carried unanimously. The Rev. J. R. Blandchard moved: “It is considered that the drink question justifies special attention, and that for 12 months the factors of the position should be placed before the motorists. If it is found that there is no improvement in the position, it may he necessary to take legislative action.”

Some delegates opposed any dogmatic course.

Mr P. W. Johnston (Christchurch), considered the aim should he to encourage temperance 'among motorists and that the question should be enquired into by a committee. Mr Blanchard said ho would readily accept the proposal, but he would prefer not to be a member of an investigation committee as his views were known, and any opinion from him would he characterised as prejudiced. The motion was withdrawn in favour of one by Mr G. M. Spence (Marlborough), to set up a committee representative of every school of thought to report to tho Minister, the report to he circulated for the information and guidance of all drivThe conference; dealt with the question of a universal code of traffic laws and law enforcement, and recommendations will be placed before the Transport Department. SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN. NATIONAL PROPAGANDA URGED(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 21. Suggestions for a comprehensive national scheme of education and propoganda in safely principles were discussed at the conference' convened by the Minister of Transport- (the Hon. R. Semple), in Wellington. Bishop 11. St. Bardc Holland said that wireless had done much in England, and could he used in New Zealand. Films, too, could be used very effectively. Mr G. M. Spence (Blenheim) said that the children were tho potential drive'rs, and it was necessary to teacli them to handle a vehicle which, improperly handled, would ho a death-dealing machine. If the schools would only take this matter up they would he doing a very great deal toward making the roads safer.

The Chief Inspector of Schools (Dr. J. W. Mcllwraith) said that a great de'al needed to be done for the safety of children. The motor-car to-day was driving children off the road, and it was only a matter of time when it might be nece'ssary to convey them to school. There were some roads which were almost untraversable for school children. Walking on the' right-hand side was all right up to a point, but on country roads it would be a very dangerous practice when corners or bends were approached. A motion by Mr Bishop, that steps be taken to carry out a national scheme! of .education and propaganda on safety principles, was earned unanimously.