THE LOGIC OF FACTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17012, 10 April 1923, Page 6

THE LOGIC OF FACTS.

“ Despite the logic of facts, despite frequent and urgent representations.” said the Auckland “ Herald ” on Friday, in dealing with the level crossing fatalities, “ apathy still permits the menace to be perpetuated ” The apathy to which the northern writer refers is the apathy of the Railway Department, for nobody can say that the need for ameliorative measures has not been frequently and emphatically sounded by the newspapers and by public bodies. “ The Star” has been persistent in demanding reform, and in view of the urgency of the matter would like to see a- small commission of experts set up to decide on the most effective means of removing the danger. Some exhaustive inquiry into the subject is necessary in view of the division of opinion as to the best means of making the crossings safe, a. division of opinion which the departmental mind eagerly avails itself of as an exense for doing nothing. For instance, the Mayor is to be congratulated upon inducing the City Council to take action iu the matter, but the remedy he suggests is not at all certain to be effective. The ringing of bells might easily become an intolerable nuisance to residents in thickly populated parts of the city, and sound warnings are quite ineffective in a strong following wind. The erection of placards giving the times at which trains were expected to cross would bo even more ineffective, and quite ludicrous in practice. Evidently something visible and unmistakable, such as wig-wag signals right cn the crossings, will be necessary before the present heavy death roll is reduced. The growth of motor traffic demands an immediate solution of the problem The Railway Department cannot escape the moral responsibility of doing the utmost that lies in its power t-o reduce the number cf accidents to a. minimum. The death roll in New Zealand, is altogether too heavy to permit of any temporising in the ratter.