ROAD SAFETY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 11

ROAD SAFETY

POLICY DEFENDED

PUBLIC WORKS AND DEFENCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

In a statement issued today, the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) referred to remarks made at Hastings by Sir Andrew Russell, who was reported to have said that it was much more important to spend money on defence than on some public works, such as the Whakatu overbridge. .

Mr. Semple replied that the Government was taking, and would continue to take, the steps it considered necessary for the adequate defence of the Dominion. The overbridge referred to was part of the Government's roadsafety policy, in which 250 most dangerous level crossings were being eliminated, the cost of the work mentioned being approximately £7800.

"Next to the importance of protecting the country from foreign invasion is the protection of the people against themselves," he said. "We certainly could not allow the death and accident rate on the roads to continue, otherwise it would be difficult to say which is the more insidious, war or the road hazard. In the Great War New Zealand's casualties were some 58,000, or about the same number as the road casualties of the last thirteen years. If we prevent manhood from being killed or maimed on the highways and byways we will be in a better position to met any foreign attack"

The Minister said that the estimated expenditure this financial year for the construction of civil aerodromes was £200,000, and for defence aerodromes £60,000, and approximately £170,000 would be spent on the latter next year. The expenditure on defence buildings and ground services this year amounted to £260,000.

The Minister outlined what the present Government-had, accomplished in respect to defence aerodromes, with special reference to Ohakea and Whenuapai, neither of which had been commenced by the last Government. In addition, the Wigram and Hobsonville Air Bases had been brought up to modern standard. The Government was also doing much more than had ever been attempted in training men for the air, and an aerodrome for training purposes was now being constructed at Blenheim,! Emergency landing grounds had been constructed throughout the Dominion.

Mr. Semple said that Sir Andrew was ungenerous in belittling the Government for its policy of reducing road accidents. Since 1925 there had been 600 casualties at railway crossings, resulting in over 200 deaths. "Those who, attempt to .get rid of this slaughter surely deserve to be called something better than fools, even by an officer of the rank of Sir Andrew," added the Minister.