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Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1931, Page 3

DELEGATES' MEETING.

i. At the County Chambers, Greypiouth last evening at 7.30, a meeting of the Board of delegates from local bodies of the No. 12 Highways District, was held to , deal with the allocation of heavy traffic fees for-the ensuring term and also to consider the new motor lorry regulations. There were piesent Messr s J. Ryall (chairman of Grey County Council) who was voted to the chair; Mr Keating (secretary), and • 1 following delegates: Ross Borough, Mr J. Murdoch (Mayor); Hokitika I ough, Mr 11. G. F. Coles (Town Clerk) Westland County, Mr J. Peake (assistant County Clerk); Kumara Bor ough, Messrs J. Pamment (Clerk) it J. Murphy (Councillor) : B.u"

County, Mr J. Mullin (Clerk) ; Greymouth Borough, Messrs F. A. Kitehingham and J. B. Kent; Brunner Borough, Messrs Nimmo and Pender (Councillors); Runanga Borough Messrs R. McTaggart (Mayor) and T. Bowes (Councillors) ; Inangalma County, Mr W. Auld (Clerk); Westport Borough, Messrs A. Taylor (Town Clerk) and B*. Swinburne (Engineer). Tlie Chairman referred to the absence through illness, of Mr D. J. Evans (We,stland County. Clerk), and on his motion, seconded by Mr J. B. Kent, it was resolved that an expn sion of symathy be extended, wishing Mr .Evans a .speedy recovery. ANNUAL REPORT. Tlie Secretary, Mr Keating, submitted tlie following report. “I beg to report that for the year ending March 31, 1931, the motor lorry ■fees collected in tlie several districts were as follows: Grey £1314 8s Id; Westland. £586 os lOd; Kumara £314 2s 2d; Bugler £1373 13s 2d; total £3588 19s 3d. Tlie figures in each case show an increase , with the exception of Kumara, .where the slump in. the timber industry, during the lajter part of the licensing year, wa s responsible for the laying up of several heavy vehicles, and consequent loss of license fees. '

The allocations in tlie Grey and Westland districts is as follows: Grey County, 52 per cent., £619 6s; Greymouth Borough, 24 per cent., £285 1 68d; Brunner Borough, 9 per cmt., £lO7 3- 8d; Runanga Borough, 7 per cent. £95 os. 7d; Cobden Town Board, 8 per cent., £B3 7s 4d: Kumara Borumh £120; Westland County, 65 per cent., £371 16s 10d; Hokitika Borough, 22’ per cent., £l2B 14s 3d Ross, per cent., £7l 10s 3d. Boiler d : st* ict: — Buller County £IO4B 17s ]od ; Westport PoroneTi £260 1.9 s lid: In-ngahnn County £4l 8s scl; Grey district £2 ’

“Proposed legislation.—The Trnsport department propose issuing a new set.of regulations, dealing with heavy traffic, and many anomalies that* now exist wil Ibe rectified in the new regulations. Under road classification, it

is. proposed to give a 50 per cent, increase in weight to the multi-axled type of heavy vehicle—that is roads restricted to 10 ton loads will he increased to 15 ton for the multi-axled vehicles. Identification signs ,show : ne the classification of each road must also be posted up, “Speeds.—The existing speed limbs which have been in force since 1925. have also been materially increased. “In addition a Transport Bill deal-

>'ng with the licensing and control o r motor omnibuses is now before the House. The Bill proposes to make lifter provision for the licensing and control of commercial road transport services. A Central Licensing and District 'Licensing Authorities will be set

up if the Bill, becomes law. and th s" Boards will have control of this aspects of heavy traffic.

“During the past year 1 the regula-

tions worked very smoothly. t’’ere hong very few breaches recorded. Sev-

eral owners were fined for overb ading otherwise the Regulations were faHv well observed by lorry owners and drivers.”

The report was received and adopted. After some discussion, the followim

amended allocations for the present year were agreed to for the Gre” County: Grey County 52 per cent., Greymouth Borough 24 per cent, Brunner Borough 9 per cent, Runanga Borough . 7-| per cent., Cobden Town Board

per cent. It was resolved that the Governnvnt he again requested to grant a subsidy towards the .expenses of the Inspector It wa s pointed out .by a delegate that while the Department might object to subsidise wages, something might he got towards the expenses of a car. The Heavy Motor Vehicle BegulntionsYjifnd. the Transport Licensing Bil 1 were discussed at some length. Mr J. Murdoch referred to an experiment of the Ross Council in road inaking with carbonate of.lime oi marl, which had been successful. It

had cost only £L,l2s 8d per chain, and during five years had given good results. He invited delegates when in Ross to examine..the roading, which lie would be pleased to point out.