LEVEL CROSSINGS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 August 1926, Page 3

LEVEL CROSSINGS.

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT'S POLICY

OUTLINED IN ANNUAL STATEMENT. The (policy of the Ne\y Zealajicl Railway- Department in regard to the elimination of dangerous level crossings is outlined in the annual Railways Statement, which was brought down yesterday. The extract dealing with the subject reads as follows : The policy in regard to the levelcrossing problem] w:as clearly set out in Railways Statement presented to Parliament last session us being one for the “elimination, of the more dangerous level crossings, and provision of warning appliances at others.” That policy has (been, and is being, carried out. Information from other countries, where level crossings constitute an even more formidable problem- than in New Zealand, goes to shew that the tendency is to do away with gates and gate-keepers, and to depend on warning notices, visible or audible signals, and the good sense of vehicle-drivers for .securing safety at the crossings. This applies to such countries an Italy, where on. the State railways there are 13,000 public level crossings; Holland, nearly 3,000; .France, 30,000; and the United States, 256,000 on first-class lines.

The expenditure of .several million pounds on unremu iterative works, which a programme for the complete elimination of the level crossings in New Zealand would call for, could not he justified to the taxpayers-. .If the rail-users were called upon to pay interest on this expenditure all railway charge® would have to- ho raised, making it 'still more difficult for the railways to compete for traffic with the road-users, and throwing -an. additional burden on the taxpayer through losses on account of railway operations. The Railway Department is now working as a business concern, and must be given, an opportunity to carry on its operations under fair competitive conditions. It would not have this opportunity were its present disadvantages of brack cost and upkeep increased by heavy unremunerative expenditure entirely for the benefit of road-users.

It must be borne in mind that, the roads and the railways of New Zealand were built by the State to meet its transport needs. In nearly all countries where level-crossing problems exist it is recognised that, no matter whether the lines are privately or State owned, the case of eliminating any crossing should be apportioned between the .railways, and the public authorities representative of the roadusers. Each should share the burden of the expense incurred for public wellbeing iat the crossing places of road and -rail. In this regard the Railway Department has .always willingly borne its share of the cost, of eliminating level crossings at those points where local (bodies have agreed to pay their fair proportion of such cost. Since the institution of the Main Highways Hoard the Railway Department has also been working in conjunction with that body in carrying out proposals for improvements at road and railway intersections. The principle of making each level crossing as safe as possible for careful road-users i.s- incorporated] in the existing policy of the railway administration, and i-s being; put into effect as finances permit, and as other interested bodies are willing to co-operate.