ROAD SAFETY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1937, Page 14

ROAD SAFETY

POSTER CONTEST

PRIZE-WINNERS ANNOUNCED

' Winners of the road safety poster competition conducted by the Transport Department were decided yesterday. The judges viewed the posters 'in the reception-room, Parliament Buildings, and selected .the entry of Mr. L. Mitchell, Wellington, as the winner Of the 20-guinea prize. Mr. Bruce Marris, also of Wellington* submitted a poster of such high standard that the judges decided to increase the second prize awarded to him from five guineas to ten guineas. Five other posters were also selected for special praise. These were a secondentry by Mr.. L. Mitchell, and entries by Mr. S.*Woolcott, Auckland; Holmwood, Wellington; Miss A. Seddon, Hamilton; Mr. R. N. Kelly, Wellington; and Mr. B. Miller, Lower Hutt. Subject to certain alterations, several of these may be accepted at five guineas each.

Satisfaction at the success of the contest was expressed b., the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R.; Semple), who paid a tribute to the high standard, of the work entered.

"In j view, of the recent increase in road accidents, I decided a short time ago to instruct my traffic inspectors throughout New Zealand to be particularly on .the;look-out for reckless and negligent drivers during the busy traffic period ahead. This special campaign in traffic law enforcement during the holiday period will be accompanied by an educative campaign in road courtesy, and posters and . poster stamps will play an important part.

LEAST POSSD3LE DELAY.

"It was necessary to obtain designs for posters, with the. least possible delay, and accordingly I decided to hold a poster competition. Owing to the time required for printing, it was not possible ..to allow more than ten days for the preparation of,entries, but all advertising agents and art schools were circularised.. More than 70 entries were obtained from every part of New Zealand. The general standard of entry was very high. Many of the posters were too 'horrific,' however, to meet with general approval. Others took advantage of the cartoon or humorous appeal, but it is very difficult to utilise this medium in connection with road safety work."

"The entries from the schools and technical- colleges deserve special praise," said Mr. Semple. "The judges decided to award a special prize to Mr. H.: Webley, of the Hutt Valley Technical School, Petone, for his entry. This school submitted six entries. Among the interesting entries was,that of a pupil of the Correspondence School medically disabled from normal activity. Although completely inexperienced in. poster work, by painstaking effort he produced a poster of ■very creditable standard."

The judges were the Minister, Mrs. Murray Fuller, - representings the New Zealand Academy of Fine* Arts, Mr. F. C. Spratt, chairman of • the publicity committee of the Road Safety Council, Mr. R. W. Fenton, manager of the Government Publicity Studio, Miramar, and Mr. G. L. Laurenson, Commissioner of Transport. ■■