DRIVERS PROTEST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2018, 3 August 1920, Page 2

DRIVERS PROTEST.

TRAFFIC POSTS CRITICISED AGAIN. A SOURCE OF DANGER. A deputation from the Canterbury Drivers' Union waited on the City Council last night in regard to several traffic matters, notably the proposal to put traffic direction posts at street inI tersections. Cr 11. Hunter stated that, since the council's request for information as to the drivers' views of traffic poles, the quarterly meeting of the Drivers' Union had been held, and it had been resolved to send a deputation to the council on the subject. The meeting had also discussed the lay-out of the tramlines, and especially the lines at present running down the sides of streets. Mr J. D. Fraser, president, of the union, said that the union had passed a resolution condemning traffic direction poles at street intersections. These, they considered, were a direct cause of accidents, especially when drivers had young ami restive horses. This tendency would be specially marked in narrow streets, such as Oxford Terrace. The union wished to object to poles of any kind in the roadway. They also wished to protest against, the location of the tramline in Oxford Terrace between Cashel and Worcester Streets. They considered that the rails should be' moved into the centre of the roadway, so as to allow vehicles to pass on either, side.

Mr J. IT. Drury, a member of the union, corroborated the statements of the previous speakers, and also protested against the present state of the tramlines, maintaining that it was necessary for the council to co operate in compelling the Tramway Board to keep its tracks in such order that they should not, be a nuisance to other traffic. In answer to a question, Mr Drury said that, to his knowledge, two men had been killed by centre poles in years gone by. The Mayor: Have you ever been in America? Mr Drury: No, but I've been in London and in France! The Mavor: When was that? Mr Drury: In 187S! The Mayor: You might as well have been there in the days of Noah, so far as traffic, is concerned! Mr Drury went, on to say that the corner of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Street was a death trap, especially on race days. The Mayor: But most of the drivers go to the races, surely! It was decided to take no action pending the conference of local bodies on August. 17 regarding traffic by-laws, to which it was resolved that the Drivers' Union be invited to send a representative.