AN EDUCATIONAL MISSION

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 20

AN EDUCATIONAL MISSION

Traffic Inspector’s Task “The modem traffic inspector is the custodian of public welfare and the protector of the public life. He has a great responsibility, and I want all inspectors to realize that. He must be the gentleman of the highway, the adviser, the frierid, and the school master of modern transport,” declared the Minister of Public Works and Transport, the Hoh. R. Semple, in a talk to the traffic staff of the Christchurch City Council recently. The Minister referred to the progress that had been made in New Zealand towards the elimination of road accidents,- and he appealed to local bodies, to traffic officials, and to the general public to assist in further reducing the annual loss of life on the roads. The Government’s plans for the control of transport in the Dominion, he said, would provide for supervision of the smaller towns and the centralization of traffic control in city and suburban areas under one administration. There would be no overlapping and no dual control, and he wanted the city traffic control systems to dovetail with the national scheme of th; department. “Where there is divided control there is inefficiency leads to accidents and loss of life,” said the Minister. “Must Know The Rules”

The greatest percentage of accidents, he continued, was attributable to lack of knowledge and experience or ignorance of the rules of the road. “No matter what job a man has or what game he may follow, he cannot be successful unless he knows the rules and the underlying principles of those rules. Too often we find a man gets his driving ticket, sometimes in a way that is not entirely satisfactory and after a test that is not sufficiently exacting, and he takes control of a high-powered ear knowing nothing of its potentialities for evil. “That is where the inspector comes in. He must teach these people that what may be a useful commercial vehicle or pleasure machine incapable and experienced hands, may become, through lack of knowledge or lack of consideration and courtesy on the part of the driver, an infernal machine. He must make them realize that these machines may change them from respectable citizens, with no desire whatever to wound or hurt, to potential murderers.

“Your job is to whisper words of wisdom and advice to these people, not so much to secure convictions, though that will sometimes be necessary. It is an educated public we want; a public that knows the rules and the courtesies of the road, and knows the power of the machine and how to master it. The public must know how to play the game, not some of the time, but all the time.” Sanctity Of Life Mr Semple said that New Zealand today had more motor traffic on a population basis than any other country except the United States. The problems of motor transport would increase in difficulty not merely from year to year, but from day to day,- because 118 new cars were taking the road each day in this country. The Minister concluded by urging traffic inspectors to preach to the motoring public the doctrine of the sanctity of human life. “Every man should try to become his brother’s keeper. Teach the motorist how to .play the game. I am satisfied that the great majority of them will.” A motorist who was reckless needed only to be reminded that he was gambling with human life. No man wished to have the blood of another on his hands, and the traffic inspectors would find that a reminder of this possibility would generally be the most effective way of making motorists safe and considerate drivers. “If a man won’t learn the lesson, then is the time to put in the boot. The magistrates will support you,” he said. “Some were not as severe as they should have been, but there has been a general tightening up. If we can get a good team of men doing this job throughout New Zealand we will achieve something worth while.”