The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, 1924. HEAVY ROAD TRAFFIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, 1924. HEAVY ROAD TRAFFIC.

It is to he regretted" that the Government policy regarding road taxation was not brought down in a moio comprehensive manner, instead of the fragmentary way it has been. Last week a measiirg was presented to Parliament governing heavy traffic on roads. This is separate and apart from previous legislation dealing with general highways traffic, and which was discussed at great length inside and outside Parliament. In the House last Friday, the Hon. J. G. Coates moved the second reading of the Public Works Act Amendment Bill. He said that every local body in New Zealand had asked for the Bill in order that there might lie some effective control of heavy traffic on the public roads. He, therefore, could not delay the Bill by sending it to a committee, but he proposed that Ivefore the regulations were adopted they should be submitted to carriers, who subsequently would meet departmental officers and the Government, when he hoped an agreement would be arrived at. The Minister explained in detail the provisions of the Bill, which he said, were very compre-

hensive, in so far as they affected motor lorries. This class of vehicle included every commercial vehicle carrying passengers and goods which with its maximum ]nad exceeded two tons in weight. Bower was given to make regulations by Oider-in-Couucil for the following purposes: —(a) For classification ot motor lorries according to their weight and currying capacity; (b) for classification of all roads and streets in New Zealand with iele;cnce to their suitability for use by ditferent classes of motor lorries; (c) for the issue of heavy traffic licenses for such vehicles by the authority controlling the roads; (d) fixing license fees payable for heavy traffic vehicles by reference to weightcarrying capacity and tyres, the minimum fee to he £5 and the maximum £75; (e) defining areas within which the license shall operate and providing for apportionment of fees among local authorities concerned; (f) providing for application by local authorities of revenue derived from license fees for road or street maintenantc; (g) fixing limits of speed for motor lorries, with reference to weightcarrying capacity and tyres; fli) prescribing the minimum width and thickness of tyres to lie used on any class of motor lorry; (11 authorising local authorities to prohibit the use of motor lorries, or any class of motor lorries, on any road or street they control during any specified period; (j) providing for appointment of officials empowered to stop any motor lorry, inspect its load or require its load to he weighed or measured, and require removal of any load exceeding the prescribed maximum; (k) piovidjng fines not exceeding £2O for breach of any .such regulations. Regulations so made cannot he held to he invalid merely on the ground that the fees imposed are unreasonably high or that any condition contained in them is unduly restrictive. Those regulations would he given a fair trial, and if successful he thought they should he embodied in the statute next year. The clause limiting the weight of motor lorries did not affoiit any lorry at present in use in New Zealand, on the water or on order, hut 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 all the States in America. It will he seen that this is comprehensive legislation, and it will take some time to bring it into due client. It is rather remarkable on the face of it that the Minister proposes to eonsuit the carriers or users of the roads, but there is no suggestion of giving the local bodies a voice in the matter. The subject, however, is one of vital importance to ratepayers in both town ami country, and the local bodies should step in in time to watch their own interests in regard to traffic which is such a heavy charge in catering for.