HEAVY TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 June 1925, Page 3

HEAVY TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

A FEEL TING MOTOR VEHICLES. A conference of West Coast local bodies in tho No 12 Highways District afioeted hv the heay traffic regulations was he'd at the Town Hall. Greyinouth, la-i night. There were present the following:— Roller County. Hon ■). Melntire. .11.L.C. : Westport Borough. (Jr. Fair; Inangahua County, Mr W. 11. .‘mid (County Clerk.i; Rrunnor Rorougli ('miueil Mr Crcagh (Town Clerk; (Runjinga L.iroiigh Council. Mr Clarke ..Mayor); Miss Richmond i Town Clerk) ; •Gre\mouth, Mr J. Higgins (County Engineer. Mr M. Kent ing (County dork) : Grovmotilh Borough Council. Messrs I’arliD (Mayor , Doogan. Kitehingham and llarker <v oiiucillors), >chloss ln>l ...ct,;;- a, A chicles ; Kumara Borough ( oiim-i!, Mr Spiers (Mayor' : Hokitika Borough Council, Mr 11. M. ( oulsoii Deptuy-.Maynr) ; Ross Rorougli Cotlii- , i|. Mr A. W. Reehles (Tow n ( Jerk) : Westland County Council. Mr T. R. Chosterinnii (Chairman.. Mr \\ . AI i 11ncr i(’mintv (Iver-eerl. Mr D. J. i*,vaus , County Clerk). Reprc-entative.s of ( o 1 ilen Town Board were present also.

Mr li. E. Doogan was voted to the chair and hrieflv introduced tho subject for the ('veiling. He called on the clerk ol the convening body to explain more particularly the business ol the meeting.

Mr Evans stated the County officials had conferred from time lo time re-

garding the enforcement ol the heavy tialiic regulations. There were various mailers affecting the details in which they should conic to an understanding so licit enforcement would he uniform. There was also the matter of the separate lees n licet ing Government roads within the district, hut advice had been received that, day that the fees were to he brought into line with the motor regulation charges. Rut liiero remained ,- liii the portion of the main highwav not alfeeted hv the Government road by-laws. A reply in regard to that was still awaited. A pressing matter at this stage was the allocation of the license fees where tea Hie alleetcA two or more bodies. Il the local bodies failed to agree bet ween themselves, the matter was to lie determined by the M:>• ■i -i r.nto, hut. the hitler course would mean expense and delay. There were a!-o matters aifecting the colour ol ill -ii i ilii aliou disc- and particularly to mi' thill ihe lorry proprietor’s return- of work peril,rov'd were sent in at regular interval-. It would he awell to have a general discussion on these matters ;l s well as other aspects which hall no il'O.iht luv.-entcd themselves in Lb> various districts.

M.r Evans said the recorded mileage of metalled roads ami streets as given in ihe local body statistics, was as tolJows :

! oitiii a M ill's. Bullet- 2-0 I iiangahtia 150 (5 rev 271 Westland HI 1125 Borough.-. Miles. We-! port Hi Rmiauga 1* G reyiimul h 22 I In i imi' r l’J Kumara '! Hokitika U Ross 71 Total 02 Total mileage lit di-trict 121, miles. I 100 Melutyre speaking in regard to th' a I loea • to* ol lic.-msC lees, favoured a division on the basis o| .>!) per cent mileage as recorded and nil per cold capital value-, lie said lb:-. had been adjusted as a trial in Taranaki. MiFair supported. .Mr Evans did not think Mich a proposal would be ai copied hv the < nunties. Mr Higgins eonelirred. Lee;; use it was not. alwavs Ihe length ol roadway. hut th" i olige.-li ..ol ol traffic which aife. ted Dm matter. Tile mat lor was ilt-us-cd at I on- id" c.-able It'll.-ill in these pio--v.il. In tlie coin-e cl the di-cii.-Mi.n, Mr ( oillson suggested an allocation on the mileage basis, and indicated how the figures would work out on a gn.vs revenue of C1i;0:>. This was net-opt oil by the Brunner Borough representative, but Mr Spiers (Kumara) -aid it was not a fait alio-, at-ion to Kumara through the sin els of which heavy muter trallie was passing constantly. After Mr Keating ami others had spoken, Mr Evans moved that it be a recommendation to the local bodies io enft:r. e the (olleclion of the heavy traffic fees as ] rni filed in the regulations, and that the respe-tive local Indies keep a record of the tost of maintenance ol roads and streets used by the trafii-. and steps lie taken to see that proprietors of vehicles render regularly the returns of traffic required under the regulations, and that th( information acquired he tubulated and at the end of -ix months a further '•onfireuse lie held to consider the disposal of the fees. The mover explained Lint the motion complied with the regulation- and determined the matter on the user of the mad, which would lie the chief factor it issue if the matter were to he referred to the Magistrate. Mr Keating .seconded the mo-

V long discussion ensued. Tin- AAest,w!t delegates did not consider tin* motion definite enough. They lavoured ~ a | alio: ation in the north, w hich hail no ( immunity of interest with the distant parts of the district. Mr 1-air pressed for an expression of opinion on that ns’, ect. On being referred to the delegate from Inangahna County, the contiguous district to Duller, that representative said the proposal would not no acceptable. Eventually the motion was < arriert

on the voices. Various details under the regulations were then discussed. It was re- ( solved to have a uniform identification disc for the district, yellow this year and red next year. Also that the returns of traffic from proprietors he furnished weekly. It was pointed out it was essential to have the information regularly. A uniform form is to lie supplied for the purpose. Mutters alfecting weights oi variontypes of vehicles were discussed; also the weight of cars, carrying passenger-. and the limit of loading to the number <>f passengers for wliuh Hie vehicle was licensed. The width of loading was stressed also, li "apointed out the regulation should be enforced as the roads ol the district were narrow. The extreme width permitted fur loading under the regulation, was S feet, and the height oi loading 1 l feet. The penalty for failure to supple returns of traffic was stressed. Tlu» Chairman referred to the necessity of licensing authorities seeing that licenses to drive were issued only to persons of competency. Owing to the number of motor accidents being reported. that the issue <>f licenses should l>e carefully guarded, and only the competent favored. The meeting eontilrreel in this. After :i further genera 1 discussion, Mr Coulson moved a vote of thanks to the chair, expressing the opinion that the discussions would serve a useful purnose as affecting the uniform ■ application of the regulations. The Chairman expressed his thanks stating that the whole subject of the regu- • la fin ns was now on trial, and it would ■ he best to have a uniform system. M i Partitt (Mayor of Greymouth) regretted had tyjei) prfTIH fit-

open ill" of tlie meeting. l>ut took the opportunity to welcome tlie visitors to Uroyniouth. nml stated meetings of .such a i aturo supplied a very useful purpose.