DANGER ADMITTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22132, 11 June 1935, Page 10

DANGER ADMITTED

NEW LYNN CROSSING PORTAGE ROAD MENACE RAILWAY MANAGER'S VIEWS "TWENTIETH ON THE LIST" A report of an interview with Mr. G. H. Mackley. general manager of the New Zealand Railways, in connection with the level crossing at Portage Road, New Lynn, was given by tho Mayor of Now Lynn, Mr. G. Lawson, at a meeting of tho council last night. He stated that Mr. Mackley had admitted that the crossing was a dangerous one and had said that ho would carry out another inspection after having made a survey of other crossings in New Zealand.

Mr. Lawson had agreed to approach Mr. Mackley in view of a petition signed by ever 1000 ratepayers in the district, protesting against the dangerous nature of the crossing. He said the council's request received a sympathetic hearing, but that Mr. Mackley maintained that there were more serious crossings elsewhere. Mr. Mackley had pointed out that the Portage Road crossing was only the 20th on the list to be considered. He had intimated that only a limited amount of money could, be spent and had said that it would cost £260 to erect a flashlight signal However, Mr. Mackley had said that he was prepared to make various improvements by laying down planks for tho convenience of pedestrians. _ "After an inspection of tho crossing, however, Mr. Mackley admitted that it was a dangerous one," said Mr. hawson, "and said that he would return in about three months, when a fresh survey had been made of other crossings. *lf only £2OO is required to remove this death trap it does not seem a very big thing." "It is a crying shame to the public, said Mr. C.'Drurv. "If the Portage Road crossing is only the :20th on the list I would not like to see the others," said Mr. G. Soverne. "It should be brought up to No. 1 position." "The onus of protecting the public is on the/Railways Department as a trading concern and not on the local body," said the Mayor. "The department told us the same thing when approached in 1916 and nothing has been done. I could say a lot more about this, but I do not think it would be wise, as we received a m6st attentive healing. It was decided to leave the matter in abeyance until Mr. Mackley s return.