MOTOR RISKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 86, 13 April 1939, Page 13

MOTOR RISKS.

ON FERRY LANDING.

RAMP GATE SUGGESTED.

A. A. EXECUTIVE'S VIEWS.

Strong representations to the responsible authorities, stressing the need for safeguarding motorists using the Auck-land-Devonport vehicular ferry service, and calling attention to the necessity for a general improvement of the harbour transport, were decided upon by the Automobile Association executive at its monthly meeting last night.

The president. Mr. G. F. Farrcll, commenting on a letter from the City j Council intimating its support of a resolution by the Harbour Board to have a report by a commission on the proposed harbour bridge scheme, said he felt the Automobile Association should strongly support the proposal. The distressing accident by which two young women had lost their lives, he said, had focusscd attention on an immediate need for safeguarding motorists by having a gate nt the top of the vehicular ferry ramp, the closing of which would make impossible .such accidents.

Mr. ft. J. Butcher commented that the "stop" sign at the ramp approach was too high. He thought there should be a heavy barrier which would prevent a car going into the water.

Mr. Farrell: It would be better to have a gate at the top of the ramp, which could be electrically controlled. Mr. H. W. Bull >ck said it seemed to him the association would bj lacking in its duty to the motorists of the province if it did not keep on putting before the Government the necessity for an exhaustive inquiry about trans'-liar-bour traffic, followed bv definite action. The present system was out of date.

'1 lie meeting decided to make representations to the Harbour Board on the need for a gate at the top of the ramp at eai.fi of tne vehicular ferry landings, and to press upon the Prime Minister the urgency of settling the harbour bridge question by the appointment of a commission of inquiry.

Mr. G. W. Hutchison said that there had been a good deal of congestion ai the vehicular ferries during the Easter holidays, although he had to admit that the traffic Jiad been handled more expeditiously than iu former years.