BROAD TYRE BY-LAWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2059, 20 April 1907, Page 4

BROAD TYRE BY-LAWS.

DISCUSSED BY COUNTY COUNCIL.

At tlio mooting of the County Couuil yesterday twenty-six settlers asked that the by-law regarding carting'm a inter should he re-considered. They held that the l.y-hiws might, operate very well on hill roads hut were hard on people on the Hats. '1 hey asked ‘.hat the by-law ho altered because the produce of fanners had to ho carried during the period named, because flats settlers would have to go Lo tlio expense of two sots of wheels, and because the settlers could not afford to buy spring waggons or two lots of wheels. Cr. Kenway said that the matter had been thoroughly gone into last year, and tho Council had approved tho by-law. Cr. Harding suggested that the year’s experience may have changed tlioir opinions. Cr. Kemvay: It has not changed mine.

The Engineer said he thought no alteration could be made. The matter had been thoroughly discussed last year. The contention regarding two sets of wheels was absurd. The. by-law might be hard on somo, but if a loophole were allowed people who carried their produce to town might go into the carrying business to take loads of goods on the return trip. Many of the settlers had already got two sots of wheels. Tie was altogether against the granting of the request. Cr. Kemvay moved that the bylaw remain as at present. Some of the signatories were storemen, and it was ridiculous to consider them in the matter. It would be unfair to discriminate and to allow those who had ignored the by-law to have equal rights with those who had not. Cr. Sherratt said it would bo inadvisable to alter the by-law except as it affected farmers bringing in produce. There was no doubt it was hard on such people. Cr. Kenwav said they should take a great deal of notico of the Enginceor’s recommendations. He was responsible for tlio upkeep of the roads and should bo able to say what was best for them. Cr. Boland seconded the preposition.

The Chairman proposed as ai amendment that the matter bo lef over till tho special meeting on Apri 26 th.

Cr. Kemvay asked if that meeting was not called for a special purpose. The Chairman said after the special business was done the meeting could bo formed into an adjournment of the present meeting. When the petition was signed by so many people it should have more consideration than that meeting could give it There might be good reason for altering the by-law, and it would not be well to do anything in a hurry. Cr. Kenway: You can eliminate half the signatures to the petition. The amendment was carried. At a later stage Cr. Kenway brought the matter up again, as at tho special meeting three of the members would not be present. East year, ho said, the matter had been gone into, and a legal opinion was to tho effect that one by-law could not be altered without nullifying the wholo. Tho petition had been engineered by the person who was prime mover last year. About ten of the signatories were small tradesmen. Cr. Sherratt: They have all got small farms.

Cr. Kenway said a numbor of carters had complied with the bylaw, and if it was altered they would be penalised. The flat roads were in a fairly bad state. If tho matter was adjourned there would be less time for the carters to comply with the by-law. To put the matter in order he would move that the motion carried in the morning be rescinded.

The Chairman said he would not oppose this, although he had moved the motion now to be rescinded. Perhaps there was something to be said on the other side. ' People may not know exactly how they might comply with the by-law. The by-law merely fixed the number of horses. Three might be used in a dray on springs and with 2Jin. tyres, and if there wore no springs one horse only could bo used.

Cr. Boland seconded Cr. Kenway’s motion, which was carried. Before the conclusion of the meeting Cr. Sherratt said carters working for the Council woidd be badly affected by tho wheel-tyre by-law. He thought county carters should bo exempt from the by-law. The Engineer said it had been laid down that he had no power to grant poi mission to evado the by-law in emergencies.

The Chairman said there was the difference that carters working for the County were not likely to abuse the permission granted. The Engineer coidd always stop such carters when he saw fit. Cr. Matthews said the Council should take a solid stand on the matter of tyres. Cr. Harding said any such action would he an admission that a bad by-law had been made. Cr. Kenway thought the by-law should be adhered to strictly. It was finally decided that no permissions to evade the by-law be given.