WASTE OF LIFE

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1941, Page 4

WASTE OF LIFE

Road Tragedies ! CHRISTCHURCH, January 14. “This tragic waste of life is the worst that has occurred for several years,” said the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, when speaking of recent road casualties. The figures, he said, compared most unfavourably with the total of nine deaths during the corresponding period last year. “Between December 23 and January 5, 17 persons were killed anfi many injured in road accidents,” said the Minister. “It wa s confidently expected that the lower Vetro! consumption would be accompanied by a reduced number of accidents. The lessened risks resulting from the smaller volume of traffic were, however, offset by an evident increase in carelessness, and, in some cases, by an almost incomprehensive disregard for the most elementary rules of safety. “A particularly sad feature of the holiday toll was that 70 per cent, of the motorists killed were passengers. Drivers need to realise more vividly that, no matter how prepared they may be to take risks themselves, they assume an awful responsibility if they needlessly gamble with Ijie lives of others. I would like to express my sympathy to those who during the holiday season have lost relatives in traffic accidents. I hope that in the coming year all roadusers will do their best to eliminate these tragedies.”