THE SPEED LIMIT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 6, 18 September 1942, Page 4

THE SPEED LIMIT

NO doubt some economy in petrol and tyres will be effected if the authorities enforce the new regulations limiting the maximum speed, for vehicular traffic in this country to forty miles an hour. It vjould seem, however, that a large section of present-day transport—namely military traffic —is to be excluded from this limitation, as are various emergency vehicles. There seems no good reason why all vehicles, official or otherwise, should not be compelled to adopt so commensense a saving, except in a time of actual emergency. Apart from this, however, it should be recognised by the authorirties, as well a,s by all users of vehicles that moderate speed> is not the only—nor the most important —measure of economy. Many a vehicle is driven so carer lcssly at speeds lower than 40 m.p.h. that its petrol consumption is high and its tyres rapidly wear out. In the case of public transport vehicles,, overloading is to-day a common abuse of tyres, besides being a,cause of transmission and other mechanical trouble. Regulations dealing with a single aspect of transport economy may be useful as far as they go, but the real need is for general appreciation of the importance of all-round, care of every transport vehicle. The careless ways of the past must be amended. Any form' of wastefulness in the operation of motor vehicles should be checked, either by educative propaganda or appropriate penalty.

Anzac Day Observance Anzae Day in 1943 will fall on Easter Sunday. The question of its observance will he considered later by the New Zealand Returned Services' Association.

Seals at Wairaka Park The Borough Council has instructed the foreman-engineer to construct several concrete seat-ends for erection at the Rock and also at Wairaka Park.