Traffic noise at hospital

WHEN the report of the General Committee was under the consideration of the Dunedin City Council last night, Cr Sincock raised the matter of the need for doing something to control motor traffic in the vicinity of the Dunedin Hospital. The Hospital chaplain had complained to him that a number of motorists seemed to be practising or testing in the vicinity, and the noise was a great nuisance to patients. Dr Bowie had also assured him that it would be much appreciated if the council could do something to

alleviate the trouble and noise. There was a nice piece of road by the Hospital, and some of the drivers seemed to increase their speed without thinking of the result in increased noise. If any of the garages were using the road there as a testing ground the General Committee would be doing a public service in getting the practice stopped. Cr Thompson referred to the noise of motors about the Hospital on Sundays, which he described as disgraceful. Cr Bradley, speaking as one who had had a long period as a hospital patient, said that the patients felt the noise very badly. The Hospital was in the wrong place, and the sooner it was shifted the better. Cr Begg said the chief trouble arose from motor cycles. On Sunday mornings the riders opened the throttle and went along King street as fast as they could go. There was a similar continual din on all our main lines of traffic, and they should draw the attention of the police to the bylaws dealing with the nuisance. Cr

Taverner said it was a matter of common knowledge that the bylaws supposed to regulate the traffic were practically a dead letter, and seemed to have noone to put them into effect. If the bylaws were defective they should be modified, and if not they should be put into effect.