PETONE MOTOR "HURDLES."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2009, 17 March 1914, Page 5

PETONE MOTOR "HURDLES."

.; HEIGHT TO BE RAISED. Some eighteen months ago the manner ,in which motors whirled along the Hutt Road past Petono led the Petone Borough: Council to devise the wellknown "motor -hurdles." Motorists, however, complained bitterly, so much so that the council was obliged to seek legal advice, with the result that their hurdles (or crossings as 1 - the council choso to term them) had to be modified and remo.dified. '• Gradually but surely the dust, and the agitation—to say nothing of the warfare that raged in the council chamber—died down, and at'.the present time tho hurdles or crossings had been night, however, Councillor Findlay revived tho question" at a .meeting > of the Petone Council, and moved that tho crossings be- • .Tomoved./j --Strange'-" :: to: I ':say, however, the council decided, on an amendment,; to raise the crossings to the level originally agreed upon.

"At one:time I considered these crossings a check," said Councillor Findlay in moving his motion. "Of late, however, I have heard so many complaints : regarding them that I am doing fio try to havo them removed. These crossings are .an _, exceedingly primitive ;Way of controlling traffic in the twentieth century." Councillor Findlay. proceeded to relate how a motorist had recently conveyed an invalid along the Hutt Road,, and. the bump experienced in crossing over each of the crossings noarly killed the patient. No other borough in New Zealand,. . continued Councillor Findlay, chose this antiquated method of controlling its. traffic., Tho speaker then mentioned tho Hutt Borough Council, who he said woro .making a revenue out of cars through the. infringement of that borough's motor by-laws. Councillor Cox romarked that although he did not wholly agree with the motion ho would support it. Councillor Anderson rose and moved an amendment to tho effect that the crossings be brought up to their previous level. . He mentioned that on Sunday' last he had seen motorists flying along the Hutt' Road at 40 miles an hour. "They are liable to kill people," he concluded. Councillor Findlay: How about the invalid? ' Councillor Anderson: Oh, he's not dead yet. ■■;' Councillor Townsend supported Councillor Anderson's amendment. "I am very pleased," ho said, "that the motorists are getting bumped over the crossings,' and I hope that' they get more bumps. ' The amendment was then put and carried. . . '; Councillor Findlay also voted for the amendment. "I'agrce with it." he said, "because, if tho Automobile Club agrees to the level, thero will be nothing to complain about."