VANDALISM ON ROAD WORKS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 71, 16 December 1938, Page 13

VANDALISM ON ROAD WORKS

Motorists Destroy Warning Signs

Dominion Special Service. WAIPUKURAU, December 14. An orgy of destruction carried out by motorists was described 6t the monthly meeting nt Waipukurau of the Patangata County Council. While work was proceeding on the Wanstead road motorists were going out of their way to knock down drums placed along the centre of the roadway, and they had even .smashed signs erected, the engineer, Mil J. C. McLauchlan, told an astonished council. “A man in a small car drove oyer the new portion of road this morning witli tiie car door wide open and kicked over each drum’as he passed it,” Mr. McLauchlan said. On the Pourerere road similar vandalism had occurred; barricades had been broken down and every lantern smashed. The councils drums at Avanstead had now been completely crushed and ruined. Tlie practice of knocking over these drums was dangerous, said Mr. McLauclilan, who recalled an Carlier ease at Otanc where a boy on a bicycle had ridden up and down a new stretch of road, kicking the drums, and this had caused a motorist to capsize into a ditch. 'The chairman, Mr. C, Pattison, agreed that, drastic steps were required. The council decided to place a traffic ot"ficer at each end of the road works to check up on speed and driving. If this is not effective the engineer has been authorized to divert traffic by the circuitous route through Hatuma.