I KEEP TO THE LEFT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 13 August 1923, Page 3

I KEEP TO THE LEFT.

—. — 4 ' HOW THE RULE ORIGINATED. A MAYORAL EXPLANATION. ; Reporting on the work done by the recent Municipal Conference ki Christchurcli to the Mount Eden Borough Counsil, the Mayor, Mr. J. L. A. Kay 11, who was a delegate, said that there was only one resolution passed that could be carried into effect by the municipalities themselves, and that was the recommendation that all pedestrian traffic should keep to the left. Christclrurch had already adopted that rule, and was apparently moved thereto by the fact that the rule of keeping to the right involved the person on the outside jof the footpath walking with his \ back to the vehicular traffic that was. j on the side of the road adjacent to the ■ footpath. Such a person, said . the \ Mayor, was in danger of being run ! over, should be step off tEe footpath j without first looking behind him. One j had heard so much about the absurdity j of there being one rule for the road | and another for the footpath" that it j might be well to mention how the rules ! first originated. Mr. Kayll remarked that in the days of chivalry horsemen : must needs pass to the left, otherwise \ they could not use their swords to ad- i vantage, and their spears would, if arrested by the impact against r objects on the right side of the roadway, unhorse them. The pedestrian passed to the right so that, if he were attacked, \ he would quickly come to a defensive attitude and use either sword, in the right hand, or jdirk, in the left hand, j with ease. Whereas if he passed on I the left he would have to turn before • he were ready to defend himself, and the moment of delay niight be fatal to his chances. But there were other reasons, Mr. Ivayll said. The horseman heldi his reins in the left hand, and to turn to the left was a matter of ease, whereas turning to the right was more of an effort, and sometimes involved the use of two hands. The horseman's rule could not be altered. The pedestrian moved naturally to the right, and that was clearly shown by the fact that persons lost in the bush invariably moved in a circle, the centre of which was to the right. It seemed to him that the . movement to the right was more of a natural habit than an acquired one, and he was not so sure that mere bylaws weve all that were - reqtih-ed in order to effect a change over. Perhaps a little additional sole leather on the right boot might assist. "There is just one other, matter of importance that must not be forgotten," s'aid'iMr. Kayll.; "In order to protect ourselves from? the success of* solicitations for our

charity which are made by gentlemen Avho prefer to Tbe men of action rather than "men of words, we keen oiir money in a hip r»ocket on the right side. This change over may demand a little attention from ovx tailors." (Laughter.)