Westland County Council

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1920, Page 4

Westland County Council

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Your Committee beg to report that a meeting was held to-day to consider the necessity of enforcing the width of tyre by-law and the heavy traffic by-law, or in the alternative suggest the entry into an agreement with each Sawmill Company affected to contribute towards the cost of the repairs to the roads in use.

Regarding heavy traffic it lias been ascertained from tlie Overseer that tlie following roads within tlie County are or will be affected immediately:—Larrikins road, Awatuna road, Gillam’s road, Arahura Valley Toad, Hau Han road, Kanieri road, Kokatahi road, Back Creek road, La Fontaine road.

To enforce the existing by-laws to their full extent would entail tlie stoppage of heavy timber traffic during the months of May, June, July, August and September. As this would seriously dislocate the industry it is not deemed advisable to take this stop unless really compelled to bv circumstances. However, the width of tyre by-law for all heavy traffic should lxi enforced rigorously, and the Overseer should be instructed accordingly. Since the by-laws were enacted motor traffic has come more and more into use and with the use of trailers there will be heavy wear and tear oi the loads. The time might arise that at certain periods of the year the trailers should be prohibited if it is found the roads are being cut up unduly. In no ease should the trailers have tyres less T-. :» five inches, while if tlie back axle weie a little longer than the front the wheels would track over a wider surface and not be responsible for so larg an amount of damage.

As regards tlie heavy traffic, it is manifest that it will put tlie Council to considerable expense in maintaining the roads, bridges, and culverts to carry it. In some instances the planking ol bridges and culverts will require to lx replaced entirely with larger timber, and at the increased price prevailing there will be considerable additional cost to be faced. Looking to all tlie circumstances, and with the desire not to hamper the industry unduly by prevent, iti.r tlie transport- of timber over the roads for five months of the year, your Committee came to the conclusion that it would be better to call upon the sawniillers using the roads to contribute a portion of the extra cost incurred tc. keep the roads up. Accordingly your Committee beg to recommend:— That any person or Company desiring to transport heavy loading over the roads under the control of the Council, shall apply for permission so to do; that such application shall set out the number and kind of vehicles to be used, and the approximate loads to he carried; that subject to such vehicles being approved by the Overseer, the Council may grant permission as requested on condition that the applicant agrees to pay half the cost of the extra maintenance caused by the special traffic incurred in the repairs etc. to the roads, bridges and culverts, such cost to be determined by tlie Overseer, who shall render a monthly account to the office: that the applicant shall enter into a bond of, say £IOO, for the due payment of any and all demands made upon him for repair works in accordance with tho foregoing. It is suggested that this proposal lie adopted as a trial up to 31st March next, when tho matter he re-opened for review.