Tahitian Motor Hogs

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, July 1.

A SHOCKING motor accident, which took the life of one of our honoured and beloved residents, has awakened thoughtful people to the peril which men aces every traveller on the highways of Tahiti from the hoodlum drivers of Papeete. , „ , There are no side paths. Every pede

strian must use the common highway.

These roadways are narrow. Most of the turns and intersections are obscured by high hedges. Anyone endowed with con sideration for the safety of others is aware that 10 kilometres an hour in the settlements, and an average of 20 an hour in the country, are the maximum speeds at which his car is to be kept under con trol against any of the numerous emer gencies. Only a hoodlum. would drive a car at a speed which would smother pede

strians in a cloud of dust.

Unhappily, this is precisely what the hoodlums of Papeete delight to do.

Another merry pastime of this illustri ous fraternity is to circulate around the Cathedral and the Paofai Church at times of religious services, with horns blowing and motors roaring.

The law is strict enough. But the hood lums—like hoodlums elsewhere—possess the uncanny instinct of knowing where the police are, and where they are not.

On an island of the area of Tahiti there is no excuse for unsafe driving.

At a moderate speed, one’s car arrives at the most distant places—Tautira or Tea huupoo—within three hours.