HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18364, 23 April 1925, Page 12

HEAVY TRAFFIC.

QUESTION OF CONTROL

LAST NIGHTSS CONFERENCE.

In'accordance with a resolution carried at a recent meeting of the City Council, a conference of representatives of local bodies in No. 16 heavy traffic district, which includes all that area within the outer boundaries of Highway District No. 14, including all boroughs therein or contiguous thereto, was held last night in the City Council Chambers, . to consider the new heavy traffic regulations. The following bodies were represented:—Christchurch City Councilors. A. A. McKellar (chairman, of Heavy Traffic Sub-Committee) and 0. W. B; Anderson,'Mr H." H. Loughnan (Citv Solicitor)', Mr J. S. Neville (Town Clerk), Mr H. H. Mcintosh (City Motor Inspector), Mr S. H. Helmling (chief clerk), and Mr E. Vincent (Assistant Motor Inspector); New Brighton Borough Council—Cr. F. D. Muirson; Eangiora. Borough Council—Cr. G. Mcintosh and Mr O. Machattie; Lyttelton Borough Council—Cr. G. S. Morris and Mr F. Hobbs (clerk); Tawera County Council—Mr G. L. Popple; Ashley County Council—Crs. A. M.\ Miller, G. F. Dawson,, and J. E. Wilkinson; Eangiora County Council—Crs. H. Talbot and J. Marshall; Eyre County Council—Cr. H. E. Evans"; Waimairi County Council—Cr. E. W. Hawke and Mr G. S. Cowper (clerk); Heathcote County Councilors. C. Flavell and Adams; Paparua; County Council—Mr G. Maginnesa (clerk); Balswell County Council — Crs. G. T. Mulcoek and J. Mackenzie; Akaroa County Council—Cr. E. gay; Springs County Council —Crs. J. S. Simpson and H. Nealo; Malvern County Council—Cr, H. A. Knight; Selwyn County Council—Cr. F. E. Pearson; Wairewa County Council—Cr. J. 0. Coop; Kaiapoi , Borough Council—Cr. F. Thome; Public Works DepartmentMr F. Langboin (District Engineer). Cr. A. A: McKellar, chairman of the City Council Heavy Traffic Sub-Commit-tee, presided.. The chairman said that as a number of local bodies were not represented ho took it that anything done at tho meeting would have to be approved by. those bodies,. The City Council already had tho organisation sot up to deal with various details of the problem, and ho thought that greater advantage would ho obtained by using the Council's staff than by each body dealinjf with the matter itself. .- • Mr O. Mach,»ttie moved that the whole question of the issue of licenses, including clerical work involved, be carried out by the City Council, with the usual allowance of 5 per cent, for overhead expenses. Cr. J. 0. Coop supported the'motion. Cr. W. H. Winsor was of the opinion that the motion would be all right it'

the details were not fixed at the meeting. ' . ,_ An amendment jv,as moved to the effect that the following matters be put on a uniform basis: —(1) Form of application for license and receipt; (2) Form of license and the numbering of same;

(3) Form and detnils of the indicator disc; (4) Identification marks (disc). In answer to a question, the chairman said that the Council was prepared, for tlm 5 per cent, to provide inspectors, , and collect fees, as far as possible on tho same basis at at present followed in other districts. A member suggested that for the 5 per cen.t. the City Council should also do tho necessary printing in connexion with the scheme. A member asked if the conference intended to fix a uniform fee for heavy vehicles. The chairman: They are fixed by the present regulations. Cr. Winsor said the CHy was quite willing to bear its fair share of the scheme, but only after a fair apportionment of the necessary data and other preliminary details,had been borne by the other local bodies eoncrnd. Mr Machattie and Cr. Flavell thought that the City Council was being treated quite liberally in being- allowed o per cent, of the sum collected. Cr. Flavell thought that it would be a graceful act on the part of the Gty to do the work for the first year.Cr. Anderson supported Cr. ,Winsor in his remarks. He did not think it fair to saddle the city with so much expenditure. He stated that under the proposed scheme it would be carv to increase the. city inspectorial staff.

The chairman thought that for one year tho City Council could try out the scheme, a'nd, if it did not pay, to withdraw from it at the, end of the '■year.,-,' ,r,vCr>i^Ar>(lerson' stated that the yfUliaglton City Council wanted 'a

larger proportion for the work than 5 per cent. 'Die amendment was lost and the motion carried on a, show of hands. The conference next discussed- the question of the collection of fees. Tb,e chairman suggested that the fees should ue collected by the local bodies in their own districts-. • -

Cr. G. H. Morris moved that the fees may be collected by the local bodies affected and handed over to the City Council. This was seconded by Cr. C. Flavell. ; Mr Machattie moved that the spirit of the Act be followed as far as possible, and the fees be handed! over to theiocal'body in which the garage used was situated. The amendment was lost and the motion carried without dissent. The next question, discussed was the method of pooling fees. (6) Apportionment of fees (a) mutual agreement, (b) system now in operation (joint heavy traffic bv-law) (c) use-of roads as particulars "forwarded by owners of vehicles in section 10 of-the regulations, (d) how often returns from owner are to be made (if necessary). Cr. Morris moved, with a view to starting a- discussion, that the method of pooling fees be on a population basis. This was seconded by Councillor Anderson, who stated that there was no doubt that the number of motorvehicles in and about the city was altogether out of proportion to those in the country. Cr. Coop: Have you ever oeen out into the country?' Cr. Winsor moved as an amendment that the apportionment of the fees fixed, be based on the amounts which each local body spent on its roads. • , _ "There is an easy way of meeting the'position," he added. "Whatyou spend on Your roads, let us have. > This was seconded by Cr. Mulcock. Cr. Morris: Will you take all the streets of Christchurch into consideraaCr'. Winsor': Yes. He added that ho was referring only to maintenance costs, not construction. One or two .members suggested tUM the mileage system should be adopted. The motion was withdrawn.

To meet objections raised Cr. Winsor suggested that tho maintenance of main highways affected by that Act bo not taken into, consideration ««« that the adjustment be taken on the remainder of the roads. • In renly to a question asked by a •country 'member it was stated by Cv. Winsor that the average amount spent by the City Council on road maintenance was about £45,000. The motion was subsequently altered to include amount of rates and Government subsidy excluding the amount or the highways subsidy, but was lost, and the original motion was carried after a lengthy discussion and after having been moved on this occasion by Cr. Hawke, seconded by Cr. Mulcock. A motion was carried to the effect that the conference was not in favour of any exemption N from paying lees being made. \ Cr. Winsor suggested that application be made to the Government to supply sketches showing-how it was intended'to attach mirrors to vehicles ■carrying loads. It was decided that the conference favoured six months being allowed owners in which to procure such mirrors.

Or. Morris asked whose business it was to-see that the regulations were enforced regarding the carriage ot luggage on running boards. He stated tha.t averhaaiging luggage i constituted •a danger on narrow roads. The chairman said that it was the local bodies who were responsible for the carrying out of the regulations and also the police. Or. Anderson stated that Clause I<J of the Heavy Traffic Regulations, requiring owners of motor lorries to enter \ip daily and furnish to the licensed authorities full particulars as to tho use of such lorries, etc., was impossible of operation. A motion was carried to the effect that the Government lie requested to amend the regulation in the direction of making it optional to supply particulars in cases where local bodies had already ngreed to the allocation of tho fees by mutual agreement. A motion was carried recommending that 50 per cent, of license fees he paid in advance and the balance in six months' time. > -