CHILDREN AND STREET PRECAUTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 115, 11 November 1929, Page 8

CHILDREN AND STREET PRECAUTIONS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In regard to the recently published report of the inquest of a young boy, who died as a result of being knocked down by a motor-car on the 2nd October the Coroner (Mr. Barton, S.M.), is reported as having suggested that the educational authorities bring under the notice of school teachers the _ advisibality of instructing young pupils to take proper precautions before crossing streets.

My committee feels that the public should know that diagrams are supplied to schools by the Education Department for '■ e purpose of instructing young pupils m the proper method of crossing over the streets, and in the Newtown School (where the deceased boy was a pupil) that the teaching staff have treated this moral obligation as one of the utmost importance, in so much tl: they even escort members of the iufant classes across Riddiford street after school hours.

Tlie victim of the accident referred to was safely conducted across the street at 3 p.m. on the day of the accident, two hours before he met with the mishap. On that afternoon the traffic was heavy on account of people returning from the football match at Athletic Park.

As a testimony or the careful training of the- 1-ni'iU c[ the Xcwtcvrn School in

the correct manner of crossing the streets, I need only mention that the sad accident m question was the only one that it is - known to have befallen a pupil of the school during the past ten years, through being run down by a vehicle. If the Coroner had been aware of these .acts, I am sure he would have qualified nis remarks so as not to cast a reflection on the Education Department and the teachers of the school concerned, who fully realise the dangers with which yomi" pupils attending school are confronted while crossing the streets, and who have done so much to train the young mind how to avoid accidents. It is, however, considered that school teachers should not shoulder the responsibilities of parents who allow their children to play about the streets, and if the Coroner's comments had been directed accordingly it would have been morTappropriate. 1 A*Wi hf- n nhe, re al£ large gatherings at Athletic Park or Newtown Park, numerous motorists proceeding east go via Meinstreet, and thus create a danger point at the sharp corner of Riddiford and Mem streets, where this accident occurred My committee therefore offer the suggestion that on such occasions a traffic officer should be stationed at this point — I am, etc., A. T. BUENETTE, Hon. Sec, Jfewtown School Committee.