MOTOR RESTRICTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1881, 15 October 1913, Page 8

MOTOR RESTRICTIONS.

ON HUTT COUNTY ROADS.

WHAT SPEED-LIMIT IN BY-LAWS?

Motor speed by-laws wero boforo tho Hutt County Couucil yesterday. Tho council's proposed by-law aims at limiting speed to eight miles an hour round dangerous corners, and to ten miles an hour 011 tho hill roads lit Paekakariki, Wainui, ltimutaka, Haywards to Pahautamii Gorge lload, and Taita Gorge. Before" discussion began a deputation from the Wellington Automobile Club was heard. Mr. C. H. Izard, who was spokesman, stated that, in tho opinion of tho club,, it was essential that speedlimits should'. bo defined, but, 011 the other hand, the speed-limit contemplated by tho council was too slow, fifteen miles an hour should be ;tlio minimum limit. If the speed-limit were fixed at ten miles per hour the motors could not go up most of the hills. Generally speaking, tho. club desired tha.t there should be some regulation that would protect (its members as well as other people. It, therefore, approved of th© by-laws in general, but' took exception to the matter already mentioned. N Mr T. Young, another member of tho deputation, thought that the speedlimit should bo 20 miles an hour on all decent roads. In answer to Mr. Izard's statement that motors would bo unable to mount some of the hills if proceeding at only ten miles an hour, Councillor Howell remarked that there were machines that could go up these hills even at four miles an hour.

Replying, tho chairman said that he was quite in sympathy with the suggestion made by the deputation. The council was only going to frame something reasonable. The by-law was not confirmed yet, and ho thought that some alterations on the lines suggest; ed were necessary.

The deputation then withdrew. Before proceeding to discuss the matter, a letter was read from Messrs. Brandon, Hislop, and Brandon, the council's solicitors, suggesting certain alterations to tho by-laws, ttn<r among mem proposing a hill speed-limit of ten miles an hour.

Councillor Howell. wa3 strongly opposed to the suggestion that the speedlimits should bo increased. Ho stated that he felt very teen on tho matter. "Pass your by-laws and leave it to me," he said, "and I am quite prepared to take £50 out of the expenditure on my riding and I will fight tho motorists with it." The main point to his'mind was over the Paekakariki Hill. Tho speed at which motorists rode over it at present was disgraceful., Councillor Welch was of the same opinion as the chairman. He agreed that the council should part down reckless driving, and suggested tiiat the Automobile Club be asked to take councillors out for a ride, and let them experience the various speeds themselves. The secretary pointed out that the Government only gave the council power to set speed-limits at dangerous places. v

It was ; eventually decided, on tho suggestion of Councillor Howell, to adjourn the matter 'for a month's timo.