LIGHTING RESTRICTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 July 1941, Page 7

LIGHTING RESTRICTIONS

- RAILWAY BUS DRIVERS. WELLINGTON, July 12. A meeting of railway bus and ser-vice-car drivers and other members of the road service branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants at Wellington this morning resolved that while recognising the necessity of fitting up vehicles for emergency conditions, and trying out other emergency conditions, the meeting considered the Government should reconsider the question of enforcing the regulations permanently. It extended an invitation to the Minister for Transport, (Mr. Sefnple) to meet the branch chairman and secretary to take part in a practical test under Service conditions, as it felt the great danger to all concerned was not realised by the Minister and the Government. The resolution added that the view was taken that such measures as deep air-raid shelters were more vital than the regulations now being enforced. Another motion, unanimously carried, requested the Government to protect the health of drivers by immediately bringing down a regulation to prohibit the drivers of omnibuses, service cars, and lorries working in excess of six hours in any shift or part of a shift between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., drivers to be paid as for eight hours. The meeting pledged itself not to exceed 20 miles an hour after Monday on all routes in the headlight and parking-light areas, and to comply with that provision of the traffic regulations which forbids driving at such a speed that the vehicles cannot be brought to a standstill within half the length of the clear roadway visible in front. , ... . The Transport Department will be asked, in the interests of public safety, to prosecute any driver failing m these respects. The Department is also being asked to check up on all headlights, private and public, and the matter of locomotive lights, road drivers having complained of being blinded by these. x , It was stated that an attempt had been made to secure attendance at the meeting, of the national president and general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and a motion was passed stating dissatisfaction at their non-attendance.