CHILDREN OR MOTORISTS?

Evening Star, Issue 18094, 9 October 1922, Page 3

CHILDREN OR MOTORISTS?

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —The following paragraph in Fri- ! day’s ‘ Evening Star ’ cannot go unnoticed or* unprotested against by tho parents of young children, invalids in chairs, and visitors to the St. Kilda Beach—viz.; “The city engineer was this morning asked by the Domain Board to prepare an estimate for an asphalt track 18ft wide to allow motorists to travel to the beach,” etc. 1 trust you will agree with me, sir, when I say I consider the motor owner is well provided for and allowed every latitude, and this dodge is piling it on a bit too thick. Surely the people above mentioned are worthy of some consideration. What with tho motorists terrorising both town and country streets and roads and the bicyclist monopolising the footpaths (in St. Kilda of an evening), is it equity that the children and aged people and invalids should be crowded out of the only space where they can get enjoyment and, exercise with safety? If tho motorist is so anxious to “ get a view of tho sea from his car” (a lot the average “motor hog” cares for a view of the sea), let him start from home five minutes earlier and travel on to St. Clair, where ho will find a splendid esplanade, tea rooms, hot and cold sea baths, and “ all the'comforts of a home.” Probably Cr Hancock, chairman of the Domain Board, himself a motorist, will think I am an alarmist. Probably I am. True, the scheme is in the estimate stage only; let it stay at that. I hope I have given a text for other fathers and mothers to express their'views on. The beach is for the, “kiddies,” pot the motorist. — I am, etc., Objector. October 9.