RAILWAY CROSSING DANGERS

Evening Star, Issue 21966, 28 February 1935, Page 7

RAILWAY CROSSING DANGERS

UNEMPLOYMENT FUND ASSISTANCE SUGGESTED [From Our Parliamentary Rf.porter,] WELLINGTON, February 27. The suggestion is put forward by Mr Ansell that the railway level crossing danger, which has been particularly accentuated recently, should be handled with the aid of the Unemployment Board’s funds. in a question to the Minister of Works to-day he reminded the House that the Unemployment Board is subsidising local body work and railway deviations, and encouraging employment at full time and standard rates. He suggested that it wav time to take up a scheme he had prr viously advocated, under which tin Main Highways Board, the Railwa Board, and the Unemployment Bonn could combine to map out a programu for the elimination of many dangcrorailway crossings, particularly those i

the vicinity of the suburbs of the larger cities. It would bo good, useful work upon which tradesmen could be employed at standard rates of pay, and the burden of the cost would not be particularly heavy on any one body. Transport to-day was of a national character, not of local importance; therefore the responsibility upon local bodies was surely negligible, and the cost of eliminating level crossings should be shared by the three boards referred to. The Minister b'ad previously stated it; the House that it was a good suggestion .