N.Z. ROAD MORTALITY

Grey River Argus, 10 September 1940, Page 4

N.Z. ROAD MORTALITY

AUGUST VICTIMS Hit and Run Cases [Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 9. "Twelve persons were killed in road accidents last month,” said the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, to-day. “This compares favourably with the figure of seventeen deaths recorded during each of the corresponding periods '.in 1939 and 1938. While this reduction in casualties is encouraging, however, the unnecessary loss of twelve precious lives is still tragic.

“A particularly deplorable feature of last month’s accidents was the occurrence of at least four hit-and-run cases. In one of these, a person was killed, and in the other three the victims received serious injuries. It has shocked me to learn that there are still drivers in New Zealand so inhumane, so unbelievably selfish, as to knock a person down and then leave him lying gravely on the roadway Fortunately, the vast majority of motorists recoil in horror from the thought of such an action. I hope that next month our record will „be free from such despicable crimes.”