MANNERS, PLEASE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 2, 3 July 1939, Page 10

MANNERS, PLEASE

HUTT ROAD TOMORROW

CO-OPERATION WITH CONTROL MEN

RACE-DAY TRAFFIC

Light rain through the week and unexpectedly heavy car traffic yesterday have brought the Hutt Road to a slushy, messy state again, not as bad as it was a few weeks ago, but bad enough in view of race traffic tomorrow. Today the graders and road planers are bringing back the wettest sections to as good order as is possible, and the heavy work of excavation and bank building will be left to give as clear a way as possible, but care and low speeds will be essential. j Since the first exhibition of bad manners and mud-slihging, which was promptly jumped upon by the Transport Department and the City Traffic Office, the majority of drivers have shown consideration for others on the road, but a few are getting back to speed. The improvement in road manners was so good that the special patrols have been withdrawn during the last fortnight, but they will be back tomorrow. The City Traffic Office will control the main Hutt Road to Petone, said the Chief Traffic Officer. Mr. L. S. Drake, today, and will insist upon the observance of the courtesy rule; action will be taken against drivers who show lack of consideration. Too many drivers interpreted the rule to their own satisfaction by exercising good enough care about splashing other cars, but ignored the fact that men on the road work were entitled to at least' equal consideration, Mr. Drake added. THE OUTER ROAD. The outer sections of the route will be patrolled by officers of the Transport Department, who point out that other difficutlies will there have to be met, and that the co-operation of drivers with patrol officers is essential. As the last race will be run late in the afternoon it is likely that the car parks will not be cleared until dark, and a first consideration that can be shown will be the use of parking lights only when leaving the course, for the assistance of the controlling officers and of other drivers. From Trentham to Silverstream cars will be required to keep in line and to maintain a reasonable speed so that cutting-in will not be encouraged. Slowdrivers will be advised to lift their speeds to the safe average. MELLING TO LOWER HUTT. It is probable that a majority of drivers will take the Western Hutt Road from Silverstream to avoid Taita Gorge and the past awkward delays and congestion through Lower Hutt, but a special warning is given by the Department's officers that care must be taken between Melling and Lower Hutt railway station, for roadwork is there in hand. There is, also, the dangerous Normandale crossing a little north of Lower Hutt station. Darkness will add to the difficulties of road traffic tomorrow, and the weather chances are not good, but if sound sense is shown the annoyances will be tolerable.