"DUMMY POLICEMEN."

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 224, 22 September 1925, Page 12

"DUMMY POLICEMEN."

ON MX. EDEN ROADS.

"A DANGEROUS THING."

"While seeking to evolve a scheme whereby the lives of pedestrians and motorists alike would be safeguarded, the members of the Mount Eden Brrough Council, at the meeting last night.° hesitated a long time before adopting a recommendation put before them. The suggestion as brought down by Crs. W. Woolley and F. Morris and the traffic inspector was that dome-shaped concrete marks should be provided in the centre of the tram track at the intersection of Stokes Road and Mount Eden Road in line with the centre of Stokes Road and also at Dominion Road tram terminus in line with the centre of Balmoral Road. The domes were to be low, to be painted white and bearing the words "keep to tlie left - ' stencilled in black. Electric lights were to be provided in the domes, or "dummy policemen." as they were termed. Some members were of the opinion that the electric lights would be smashed by the traffic 'The engineer, Mr. J. Rogers, said that if the domes were to lie lighted the glass covering would have to be especially thick. Mr. Morris said the scheme had been successfully introduced in other places, and mentioned Stratford in particular. Mr. D. C. Fraser said it was a serious matter. He did not like tbe idea, but he would not oppose a trial being given. He thought, however, that it was a dangerous thing to put in, and that they would be courting trouble. The streets, he pointed out, were only 46 feet wide, and he did not consider the scheme was a feasible one. Mr. Woolley: I am sorry to see Mr. Fraser change his mind so often.

Mr. Fraser rose to a point of explanation, and stated that he was quite willing to give it a trial. Mr. Woolley stated that the policeman on point duty had said that the scheme would assist him to control the traffic.

Mr. Morris said he was strongly in favour of the scheme being carried out. He maintained that there would be more dan?er without them.

The Mayor, Mr. E. H. Potter, said they, could write to the Stratford Borough if it were thought necessary. The discussion waned at this point, and the Mayor moved the adoption of the recommendation, which was carried without further comment.