TRACTION ENGINES IN CITY STREETS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17127, 23 April 1921, Page 11

TRACTION ENGINES IN CITY STREETS.

TO THE EDITOR OP "THE PRESS." Sir, —May I most respectfully ask the present Mayoral and Council candidates if they are in favour of, and would promise to do all in their power toexclude from the streets within the city traction-engine traffic ? Everyone has knowledge of the tremendous damage caused, and particularly does this refer to' the splendid Papanui main arterial road. Ratepayers are taxed for the upkeep of streets, and this barbarous traffic, maintained for the monetary advantage of the few private owners, adds a yery high and unfair percentage of cost, and, in addition, causes houses- on the roads most frequently used, great damage by vibration, whilst the noise, smoke nuisanoa. ind eight are abhorrent. In

Sydney, Melbourne, and other cities of some civic pride, All steam trafflo is prohibited within the city area. The railways offer all the facilities for carriage of wool, timber, and other goods, and if road haulage is cheaper, then, it is rendered so by the upkeep of the roads by the taxpayers, who derive no direct or indirect advantage. The Postal Department promptly prosecutes anyone who delivers a letter for gain, but the Railways Department allows this business to go on without comment, and a benevolent City Council maintains the highways free to these persons, and every now and again the Drainage Board incurs heavy expenditure in mending the deep-laid pipo9 which have been fractured by the heavy engines passing over them.-^-Youre, 6 "IONG-SUFFERLN'G RESIDENT.