STREET TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1712, 1 April 1913, Page 5

STREET TRAFFIC

CONTROL BY THE POLICE. CHANGE TAKES PLACE TO-DAY. From to-day tho police aro to tako over tho control of tlio traffic in the streets of Wellington. Up till tho present time there has been something in tho nature of dual control, which for tho greater part of tho time has meant next sto 110 control. Tho' Oity Corporation has left things to the polioe, and tho polico to the City Corporation, and tho result has naturally been unsatisfactory. With the largo ami steady increase in the traffic, it was imperative that tho responsibility should rest somewhere, and as tho result of negotiations tho City Council (through tlio City Solicitor, Mr.' John O'Sliea) has luado arrangements for tho polico to tako over the control of tho street traffic in Wellington from to-dav. The arrangement has been placed 011 a legal basis by deed, tho provisions of which are ns follow:— (1) The control and regulation of all traffic of tho city, vehicular and pedestrian, and of the. conduct in tho city of drivers of liconsod vehicles, shall be undertaken by his Majesty the King and bo exercised by his Majesty's police officers. During such time as these duties aro curried out by tho police, the corporation shall not by its officers ti>Ao any part in such control and regulation. , (2) livery police officer on duty in the city shall in tho course of his duty enforce all provisions of the city by-laws and all statutory enactments relating to traffic in tho city, whether vehicular or pedestrian, and tho conduct of all drivers of licensed vehicles in tho city, and shall lav informations in proper cases against all offenders against the provisions of such by-laws and statutes, but the prosecutions of such offenders shall' bo conducted by the City Solicitor without charge to his Majesty tho King. All applications for drivers licenses or renowuls shall bo submitted to tho Superintendent of Polico for a report as to tlio character and suitability of the applicants. 0) The Commissioner of Police shall station and keep stationed on point duty three officers during the day, 0110 at the Bank of New Zealand corner, one at tlio intersection of Willis Street and Manners Street, and one alt tho intersection of Cuba Street and Manners Street. Tho period or periods during each day during which ail officer is to stationed at these points shall extend over at least 'nine hours, and shall cover such times as shall be agreed upon (>y the City Engineer and the Commissioner of Police.

(i) Tho corporation shall furnish to the Commissioner of Police without charge such copies of tho city by-laws relating to traffic as the Commissioner . of 'Police shall require. (5) The Mayor of tho city shall bring before tho City Council for its consideration such by-laws relating to traffic as may bo suggested by this Minister for Justice. 1 , (G) This agreement shall- come, into force on tile first day of April, 1913, and shall continue in forco for one year, and thereafter from year io year until deter"lined at the end of'the first year or any' succeeding year of the currency ! of this agreement by notice in writing given, by either party to the other party not iess than one calendar month prior to tho expiry of the. then current year of the term of this '-agreement. Any such notice given on behalf .of'his Majesty tho King may bo signed by the Commissioner of Police, and any such notice given on behalf of the corporation may bo signed bv the Town Clerk.

(7) During the continuance of. this agreement, the corporation shall pay to his Majesty the King for: tho services rendered by his Majesty's; police pursuant ,to this agreement the slim of .£SOO per annum, payable quarterly on the 30th days of Juno and September and the 31st days of December and March in each year, the first of. such payments to be mado on tho 30th day of June, i'.)l3. All such payments shall bo made to tho Commissioner of Polioe, whose receipt shall bo a sufficient disoharse for tliie saino.;