A DEATH TRAP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9517, 18 May 1911, Page 5

A DEATH TRAP.

(To the Editor.) • . Sir—The failure of. the Railway Department to place a crossing keeper 'at the Cook Street crossing stamps it as a body that has very little regard for human life. Such a state of affairs as that'which exists at ; the said, crossing would not be tolerated 'anywhere else for twenty-four hours. 1 •.will give you my experience as a driver, of a vehicle ; one,.'l suppose- of many similar experienced by others, which goes to show that even, with the greatest care one is liable to be mown down by one of the ..Department's mankillors. A .. long • train shunted into the; dock by, the railway gas works: it was then divided, onehalf, being left in'the dock ..and'the other placed alongside the signal.box; in. a. position that obscured the view of any approraching train ':' coming from the IVest street end of the yard. After the train had. divided, 4he line to all appearances being clear,.l " attempted to cross. I had no sooner got past the signal box section of the train when I observed the . express, from Wellington coming on .irie at a great rate. Acting hurriedly. I turned my horse round just in time to let her dash past me. I .have'an eye-wit-ness of the affair, ;who could bear, out the truth of my statement/ -Now, sir, if. this is some;of the Department's' .■revenue-producing . economy ,it "■ is of a 'very expensive kind, and one which will, land them . sooner or later in. heavy damages. Hoping tlia.t useful body, the; Chamber of Commerce, .willstill, persist in their endeavours to have'.this menace-to-public safety removed,, and thanking you lin ariticipaV tion.—l am, etc., ■ ■ w . , •, Pitt) BONO PI'BLICO.