Beschreibung:

A rare set of six novelty cocktails sticks modelled as Belisha beacons, each with a pole with alternating silver and black-enamelled bands and with a bakelite orange globe, in a fitted case, Barker Brothers Limited, Birmingham 1934. Baron Hore-Belisha (1893-1957) was active in many political fields although he is undoubtedly best known for his work in the Ministry of Transport. In 1934 he introduced the driving test, revised the Highway Code and extended the use of pedestrian crossings, each marked with illuminated amber globes mounted on black and white posts. These were promptly christened Belisha beacons. In 1937 Hore-Belisha was transfered to the War Office by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. He soon embarked on an extensive programme of reforms, antagonising many of the older members of the Army Council. Such was their irritation that in 1940 Chamberlain asked Hore-Belisha to transfer to the Board of Trade. Hore-Belisha prefered to resign, this news coming as a great shock to the nation and it soon became evident that most of the press and many of the public were strongly in his favour. Although described by Chamberlain as possessing "very exceptional qualities of courage, imagination and drive", he added "he has the defects of his qualities - partly from his impatience and eagerness, partly from a self-centredness which makes him careless of other peoples' feelings". As a result Hore-Belisha enjoyed a very short political career, and he is undoubtedly best remembered for the road safety measures and for the pedestrian crossing warning signs which still bear his name. (6)