THE MINISTER AND THE ROAD PROBLEM.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20762, 24 June 1937, Page 8

THE MINISTER AND THE ROAD PROBLEM.

Declaring that “the decision of Justices of the Peace in some cases against drunken drivers were appalling,” the Minister of Transport lias raised a. question that is fundamental to the fair and courageous administration of justice. The Minister, on his part, did not disclose the particulars of the cases prompting him to admonish the Justices of the Peace for the manner in which they are discharging their duties. But because of the sweeping nature of the Minister’s condemnation, some further explanation is required that will at least exempt efficient and conscientious Justices of the Peace from official charges of delivering appalling decisions. The Minister, on his part, expresses satisfaction with the administration of the law by the Stipendiary Magistrates, but it is his intentipn, as he indicated in Christchurch yesterday, to tighten up the law against drunken drivers. No one who peruses the pages of the daily newspapers will envy the Minister of Transport the gigantic task he faces in the determination he has displayed to make the roads safer. The toll of the motor is manifestly part of the price the community is paying for progress in the realm of transportation. Under normal conditions, where the safety of the users of the roads is subject to human limitations, a price will be paid in human life and injury in accidents that are inevitable. But the Minister of Transport is determined to make a substantial contribution to the campaign being waged to make the roads safer for all classes of traffic. Certain types of motorists are to be legislated off the roads if the Minister is given a free hand to deal with tin’s potential menace. It is realised that with modern traffic using many roads that have not emerged from the horse and buggy era, accidents are inevitable. The Minister, on his part, recognises that responsibility reposes on his shoulders to remove the dangers associated with recklessness, and in taking this course he will be given the support of all sections of the community. But it is doubtful if the inventor of the now famous “running shoes” for boards of all descriptions is not finding his Ministerial duties more than is humanly possible for him to carry. Yesterday the following news paragraph referring to the Minister of Public Works and Transport, was published: A medical examination revealed that there is nothing organically wrong with Mr Semple, but he is suffering from physical and nervous strain due to overwork. His weight had dropped from 12 stone to 10 stone 91b, and what he is primarily in need of is a complete rest. Mr Semple said that he was going to have a rest from his official duties for a while, but he had not yet decided where he would go for it. He had been working sixteen or seventeen hours a day, including Sundays, for the past eighteen months, and the time had arrived when he was compelled to take things a bit easier. New Zealand does not expect such service, and Mr Semple should be relieved of some of his biggest burdens.