RICCARTON DEFIANT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 175, 11 August 1937, Page 12

RICCARTON DEFIANT

Unified Traffic-Control Scheme "PlGHT TO LAST DiTCH" Outspoken criticism of the scheme for unification under the Christchurch City Council of traffie control within the metropolitan area was expressed by the Mayor" pf EiecUrton, Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., who deelared that Eiccartdn Avoulcl light to the last ditch against inclusion in the scheiuo. "We are not going to be pushed into anything," he said» The change-over in control is due to take place at the end of next month and the Ti-aliie Department of the City Council has becn going ahead steaclily with its planS for assuming its new responsibilities. Eicearton's opposition does not, howevex', greatly pex;turb the council, as it was recalled that the Minister of Transport, the Hon. E. Semple, said at a recent conference in Christchurch that "Biccarton xvould come in." In explaining EiCcarton's opposition to-day, Mr. Kyle said that tho ^chemo as outlined by the City Council ixivolved a large deiiciency. The Minister hud feaid( that ho cOuld not guax-antee to lind this nioney. Where was it eonxing from? Was Eiecarton to surrender its trafiic feea without any assurance of efficient control in return? "What are the police doing?" Mr. Kyle asked. "We have two police ofiicers in Eiecarton. Put them in their uniforms and on the road. They could ldOk after things all right. The other scheme merely means the creation of another iarge- army for which we, as taxpayors. will have to pay. " Eiecarton, Mr. Kyle added, was not willing to surrender £300 a year in lieeixee fees for nothing. It was his view that traffie control under the present system ilx Eiecarton was just as efficient as any system the city migllt deviso.