ABUSE OF ROADS CAUSES COUNTY COUNCIL CONCERN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 48, 24 May 1950, Page 5

ABUSE OF ROADS CAUSES COUNTY COUNCIL CONCERN

The abuse of roads from timber carriers and other carting agents came under fire at the monthly meeting of the Whakatane County Council yesterday when the reclassification of County roads was considered. It was decided to bring the question forward at the number three District Highways Council meeting to be held at Rotorua tomorrow when the possible elimination of double carting is to be suggested. Much of the trouble was caused through speeding and the resulting wear on roads was very hard Cr A. F. McGougan declared. That was part of the cause of some of the damage Cr Wilson agreed, but he mentioned the practice adopted by some carriers operating at Galatea. He alleged that when some carriers were caught with an over-load of timber they accepted the fine but the next day carried a larger load still to “pay for the fine.” Cr Wilson also referred to the

number of trucks travelling between Galatea and Whakatane. and making half the trip empty. Many timber carriers carted timber to 'Whakatane but returned empty --While trucks from Whakatane transported fertiliser to Galatea but came back to Whakatane empty. He thought this unnecessary doubling could be eliminated. It was pointed out that part of "the trouble was that many timber carriers were licensed only to carry timber. It was possibly a case for the Murupara Chamber of Commerce to take up the chairman, Mr J. L Burnett, remarked. Cr W. Hunter mentioned the present road freight service operating between Tauranga and Whakatan Every day, he said, a truck brought freight by road to Whakatane from Tauranga and yet there were freight trains coming through during the Week. Cr Hunter said he could not see the need for having a road and rail freight service operating beside one another. A suggestion that it might be the reason why freight charges had risen was advanced by Cr R. C. Leslie.