POINTS OF VIEW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4016, 23 February 1938, Page 7

POINTS OF VIEW

OUR READERS’ VIEWPOINT. MOTORING TRAGEDIES. Sir,—ln these days of scientific inventions one must expect that it will be some time before the population becomes acclimatised to their drawbacks and evil effects. Motor cars have been with us long enough now for the public to know the dangers attached thereto. But the road-hogs who use these inventions do not yet . realise the danger to life in the machine they have or should have, under their control. Day after day one hears of loss of life and serious injuries caused through motor acciddents. Some are unavoidable, I admit, but the majority are purely the fault of the individual behind the wheel. As a motorist travelling through the country 1 meet with scores of them on the road, whose sole aim is to see and boast that they can do the trip from Auckland to' some other place in such a time. The old saying was “From the cradle to the grave;” but that has been altered to “From the cradle until a motor car or cycle hits you.” There is a law in this country, and it is carried out very strenuously, that fishing boats, launches, gear, etc., shall be conficsated if the owners are found taking a few or . any . quantities of oysters or fish in the prohibited area or season. Yet for taking* a life the Individual is let off with a fine, cancellation of driving license, or a short term of incarceration. Is it not about time that the law was altered to allow of the confiscation of the motor car or means to take life when the individual has been found guilty of the crime?—l am, etc., ROAD SAFETY. FAR EAST RELIEF FUND. Sir, —The Joint Council of the Order of St. John and New Zealand Red Cross Society at its last meeting decided to recall all subscription lists circulated to city councils, boroughs, counties, town boards, fire boards, electric power boards, hospital boards and harbour boards. We have respectfully to solicit the return of all subscription lists, used or unused, on or before the 28th February, as it is considered desirable that the fund should be brought to a finality by the end of the present month. We have to report that the appeal has resulted in the sum ot £7,118 16s 3d having been raised to date, and it is hopefully expected that when all subscription lists are returned that the objective of £lO,OOO will be achieved. The chairman of the Joint Relief Fund Committee, Si* James Elliott, wishes to express to all subscribers the Joint Committee’s appreciation of the response on behalf of the sufferers in the Far East. Also we have to advise that a Medical Committee acting on behalf of the Joint Council, appointed Dr Robert B. Grey, of Auckland, and Dr Hector C. Tremewan, of Wellington, for service with the Joint Council, and that medical equipment, including instruments and drugs to the approximate value of £4OO, was supplied to these two gentlemen for immediate use on their arrival in China. Dr Grey arrived at Hongkong on Saturday, sth February, and Dr Tremewan loft by the Wanganella on Saturday, 12th February. The Joint’ Council also advises that a duly audited financial statement as io the disbursement of this fund will be published in due course. Will you please convey our sincere thanks to all those assisting in this worthy cause.—l am etc., J. MACLEAN. National Secretary. Wellington, 21st Feb., 1938.