STREET NUISANCES.

Northern Advocate, 15 March 1922, Page 4

STREET NUISANCES.

A report presented ';o the Whangarei Borough Council on Monday night drew attention to what was described as a growing practice on the part of motorists, that of using the space at the corner of Bank and Camercn streets as a "turntable" for their cars. The matter was referred to the By-laws Committee , and it is sincerely • to be hoped that the final result will bo the adoption of a by-law that will entirely prevent what is obviously a very danserous practice. A great, deal of traffic ,nmst necessarily pass this corner, and though accidents certainly are few, wo believe we are justified in savin 3 that narrow escapes are many. The regulation of traffic at the corner is a matter of the utmost importance. Most motorists, no doubt, observe the rules laid down for the control of their vehicles, but there are some who seem to be as careless of their own safety as they are of other people's, and by ■cutting corners and drivi ig their vehicles at excessive speeds they create danger. glad to know that the borough inspector is keeping a watchful eye 011 all these people and trust that his efforts to curb the impetuosity of drivers who ore inclined to be heedless of other people's rights will meet with success. Perhaps we may mention another class of "wheeled traffic" that should have his attention. Of late a number of boys have developed the habit of taking joy rides in boxes set 011 wheels and have selected Bank street as their parade ground, the gentle hill running from the Town Hall to the corner of Bank street providing the motive power for their "cars." No doubt, the youngsters find the amusement exhilarating, for they muster in force at the busiest hour of the day, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when the traffic in the streets is quite exceptional. Not only do these young joy riders place themselves in grave danger, but they anust also be a source of the greatest anxiety' to motorists and drivers of horses, and their antics <?an only result sooner or later in a very serious accident. We do not know whether the borough inspector's authority and the purview of the by-laws cover the class of vehicle affected by the boys, but if there is no provision by means of which a most pernicious practice can be stopped the By-laws Committee might take the matter into consideration. Meanwhile the parents of these boys, unless, as one might not unnaturally imagine, they are unfortunate enough to have none, might do worse than bestir themselves to do their duty by their offspring.