TRAFFIC ON ROADS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9850, 31 October 1924, Page 5

TRAFFIC ON ROADS

PUBLIC WORKS AMENDMENT BILL. CARRIERS WANT TO GIVE EVIDENCE.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. Ini the House of Representatives to-day, Mr. Wilford asked on behalf of the Wellington l branch of the Dominion Carriers’ Federation whether the Government would refer the heavy traffic clause of the Public Works Amendment Bill to a committee. to take evidence. The Minister for Public Works said that he did not think that- the Bill should) be sacrificed because the Carriers’ Federation was unable to call evidence. He could only say that, in his opinion, nothing was more urgentin the interests of the Dominion-, the farmers, the ratepayers and t-lie local bodies, than the provisions" suggested in the Bill. He know that the Bill had come down late and no one regretted it more, than he did. The Crown Law draftsman had been working on it for months and it .was a difficult and highly technical Bill to draft. Regulations lmd to he drafted before tile Bill could come into operation, and) it was,hoped that by next session they would be- able to design something that would more or less meet the situation. He thought that everybody recognised the urgency of the matter. If the Bill was sent to n committee the most they could do would be to take evidence for half a day. A committee had already heard considerable evidence on the subject and the master carriers had made, it clear that any change in legislation with regard to heavy traffic, would meet with their opposition-. He hoped that tho House would pass the clauses of the Bill more or less as they stood, but he was afraid that to send the Bill to a committee would mcaiv killing it this year and would mean a hopeless waste of public money for another year so far as the roads were concerned.

Mr Wilford said that lie understood tiie; House was going to sit on Saturday as it was- not going to sit on Moiw day till 7.30 p.m.\ -and be suggested that the Minister should send it out through the Press Association so that the committee would receive evidence from 9 to 11 or from 10' to 12 on Saturday morning. He could set up a small sub-committee representing the three parties in the House to hear the evidence. He was not objecting to anything in the Bill. He knew nothing about it. The Prime Alinister said that the Bill was a very good one, and was very urgently required. Nobody wlio bad been through the country during the- winter months would come to any other conclusion. He did not think there would be much' opposition to the Bill so far as the business of the House was concerned. The House would sit or; Monday night as usual, and it nils proposed to sit on Saturday morning or on Saturday some time to take the Washing-Up Bill. He suggested that carriers would find that no injustice would be don# them and they need not worry. In any case if any hardship resulted from the Bill it would be dealt with early next session. —Special.

MEASURE TO- HELP 'LOCAL

BODIES

WELLINGTON, Oct. 30,

In the House to-night the Hem. Coates moved the second reading of the Public Works Amendment Hbii. He said that every local body in New Zealand had asked for the Bill in order that there might he some effective control of heavy traffic on public roads. He. therefore, could not delay the Bill by sending it to a committee, hut he proposed, before regulations are adopted, that they be submitted to carriers, wlio will, subsequently, meet Departmental officials and the Government, when lie Imped an agreement would he arrived at. The Minister explained in detail the provisions of the Bill.-which, lie aid, were very comprehensive insofar as they affected motor lorries. This class of vehicle includes every (oramercial vehicle carrying passengers and goods which, with its max.mum load, exceeds two tons in weight. Power is given to make regulations by Order-iii-Cbuncil for the following purposes:— (a) For classification of motor lorries according to their weight and ca v ry in g cap ac-ity. (h) For classification of all roads and streets in New Zealand with reference to their suitability for use bv different classes of motor lorries.

(a) For tiie issue of heavy sreffic licenses for such vehicles by the authority controlling the roads. (d) Fixing the license fees pay aa 1 3 for heavy traffic vehicles by refereiuc to their weight-carrying capacity and tyres, the minimum fee to ho £0 and the maximum fee £75.

(e) Defining the areas within which the license shall operate and providing for the apportionment of the fees among the local authorities concerned.

(f) Providing for tin? application by the local authorities of the 'ovenue derived from the license fees for road or street maintenance.

(g) Fixing the limits of speed for motor lorries with reference to the weight carrying capacity and tyres. (h) prescribing the minimum width and thickness of tyres to be used on any class of motor lorry. (i) Authorising local authorities to prohibit the use of motor lorries or aijy class of motor lorries on any road or street they control during any specified period. (,j) Providing for the appointment of officials empowered to stop any motor lorry, inspect its load, require it or its load to be weighed or measured, and require removal of any load exceeding prescribed maximum. (k) Providing fines not exceeding £2O for breach of any such regulations.

The regulations so made cannot lie held to ho invalid merely on the ground that the fees imposed are unreasonably high or that any condition contained in them is unduly restrictive. These regulations would be gi von a fair trial and if. successful, lie thought they should he embodied in the statute next ,year. The clause limiting the weight or motor lorries did not affect any lorry at' present in use in New Zealand, on the water or on order, but, in future, no lorry could he imported into New Zealand weighing more than six tons or, when loaded, ten tons. That was the limit now imposed in nil .States in America.

Air Wilford said he, on behalf ot a large, number of earners, protested against the measure being rushed through, before they had any chance of making representations on the subject. He repeated his request to have the Bill referred to a special committee.

Air Young said that as the regulations were to bo submitted to. carriers beore they were adopted bis objections had been largely overcome Messrs Buddo. Savage, arid Sullivan all regretted the Minister's decision not to refer the Bill to a committee.

The Minister, in reply, said he took the responsibility for pressing the Bill through, because the pressure upon our roads, owing to' the lionw traffic, was such that it must be controlled, otherwise the roads would continue to carry loads far in excess of what they were built to carry. Tho Bill was read a second time.— P.A,. A .