SIGNALS AT CROSSINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20594, 19 June 1930, Page 12

SIGNALS AT CROSSINGS.

RED LIGHT ADVOCATED.

TARDY ACTION CRITICISED

[lix TELEGRAPH. —-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WANG AN UI. Wednesday

"It is three years ago since tho Wanganui Automobile Association first approached the Railway Departmoijt with a request that tho green light signals at level crossings bo done away with," said Mr. F. J. Hill, socrotary of tho association, when commenting on tho Christchurch crossing tragedy, and the • probability of confusion as tho result of the use of a green light.

"Ono of our members was' firiod for crossing tho line," Mr. Ilill said, "and as a result wo wrote to the district traffic manager on October 15, 1927, asking.that tho green light or flag, which meant safety to tho train and danger to motor traffic, bo replaced by something which showed red to the public." On October 26, 1927, the association advised that "arrangements were in hand to introduce a special signal lamp at level crossings protected by manual signals," So fyr nothing had been dono, Mr. Hill said that on April 17, 1929, Mr. Wyvcrn Wilson, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Hamilton, -had definitely stated when dealing with an offending motorist that the green light system of manual signals at level crossings was most unsatisfactory. Following tliat, tho Wanganui Automobile Association had forwarded a remit to the half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union, asking for a red light to be shown to tho public and a green ono to tluo train. That remit was carried unanimously, and the department advised "that it was looking into the matter." ...

The same problem was referred to at the annual conference of the Motor Union at Auckland jn August, 1029, when fho president's report stated that Mr. IT. 11. Ster ling, general manager of railways, had shown the executive of the union a lamp designed to bo used at dangerous level crossings in busy thoroughfares. The feeling at that Auckland conference wAs that the matter had been practically settled, said Mr. Hill.-

ERECTION' OF BRIDGES.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —rRES.S ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday

The Farmers' Union Conference passed a remit urging tbp Government- to t'o- . operato with the Main Highways Board to erect bridges over the dangerous of tlio leVel crossings, and in the case of all other level crossings to provide a clear view of tho railway line for 50 yards oh cither sido of the-crossing. In moving tho motion, Mr. C. 6. Jaclr. son (Kopuaranga) said they should urge tho Government to speed up the bridging of crossings." They could not expect it to be done at once, as it was said it would cost £2,500.000, bnt there was no reason why the work should not bo expedited, especially in view of the frequent loss of life.