NO APOLOGY FOR ELIMINATING LEVEL CROSSINGS

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1937, Page 6

NO APOLOGY FOR ELIMINATING LEVEL CROSSINGS

-MR SEMPLE

[Per Press Association. Copyright .l WELLINGTON, This Day.

The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, took the opportunity of answering some criticism when the House of Representatives was dealing with the Public Works Estimates last night. Dealing with criticism regarding the amount spent on main highways, the Minister said it had to be borne in mind that a lot of bridges had outlived their usefulness and had to be replaced. The question of removing dangerous bends was an essential work.

Mr Semple said that since 1925, 198 persons had been killed in level crossing accidents, and 414 had been seriously injured.

Some had suggested that overbridges were not essential, but they could not wait for the .deathrpll to mount. He had no apology to make for the money spent in eliminating dangerous crossings. Referring to the question of improving back country roads, the Minister said that when the Supplementary Estimates came down, it would be seen that the Government had made proper provision for that work. Mr R. A. Wright (Independent— Wellington Suburbs) asked if the maintenance of country roads would fall on county councils or the Government.