HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4713, 18 June 1924, Page 3

HEAVY TRAFFIC.

OHINEMURI COUNTY BY-LAWS. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING. A special meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held in Paeroa yesterday morning, ' the following members being present: Councillois A. R. Robinson (chairman), S. H. Morgan, W. F. Johnstone, F. C. Hubbard, A. D. McGuire, P. Corbett, H. M. Corbett, R. R. Morrison, and C. E. Mace. Messrs R. W. Evans (clerk) and E. Shaw (engineer) also attended. The chairman explained that he had called the meeting to discuss the matter of heavy traffic on the county’.-; main roads. Letters protesting against the council’s action in giving notice of its intention to prohibit heavy traffic oi all kinds on any county road during the winter months were received from Messrs Brenan and Co., Ltd., Northern Steamship Co., Ltd., R. M. Aitken and Son, R. Phillips, Ltd., Waihi Grand Junction Gold Co., Ltd., Waihi Mining Co., Ltd.,. N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd., and the Paeroa Borough Council. Cr. McGuire said he endorsed the action of the chairman in calling the meeting in view of the correspondence received, and he contended that it was a serious matter for so many people to be thrown out of employment and so many industries hampered by the council enforcing the heavy traffic by-laws during the winter months. It was necessary for the council to take a broad view of the matter and consider the far-reaching effects that the distribution ofi goods and produce had in the district. At the same time he quite recognised that the ratepayers’ interests must be safeguarded, and he was of the opinion that this could be done by issuing heavy traffic licenses and requesting the holders to enter into a. bond with the council to make good any special damage that might be caused to roads by heavy carting during .the winter. The speaker thought that the PaeroaWaihi road was in as good a state of repair as it was during the summer, and he questioned whether heavy traffic caused much greater damage to the road than the large volume of light traffic that passed over it during the summer. The council should do all in its power to help every class of industry, and by enforcing the by- - laws ample evidence had been submitted that serious consequences to .industries and progress must result. 1 Cr. Hubbard suggested dividing the discussion into two divisions —main highways and county roads. ■ ; ir. H. M, Corbett said he failed to see how a division could be made, as main highways absorbed the heaviest drag on the the funds of the council, and every ratepayer was affected. He maintained that the special meeting was necessary to discuss the matter. but thought that the letters were all from one centre. No councillor was anxious to hamper any particular section of the community in its operations, but the council had its bylaws, and they should be enforced ; otherwise those persons using the roads should be prepared to pay for them. The council was-not justified in taking the ratepayers’ money and spending it on roads that principally Ijenefited the travelling public, who paid no rates to the county. It was a question of whether the council was there to attend to the interests of its . ratepayers or whether the interests of the travelling public were of paramount importance. Speaking of his own riding, Cr. Corbett said that the general opinion was against spending so much money on the main roads to the detriment of subsidiary roads. If the council could justify its actions by so doing it was all right, but he thought the council could not. In his opinion, the proper place for a sawmill was near the bush and not in a town. It was recognised that there was nothing more detrimental to a road than carting logs over it, unless it was’ metal. He did not think the- position of the sawmillers need be seriously considered. In regard to the mining -companies, they had the railway for the carriage of materials, and he could not see that any hardship would be inflicted on them by the enforcing of the heavy traffic bylaw. The matter of the carriage of explosives from the magazine could be easily arraged. Referring to the Dairy Company’s letter, Cr. Corbett said that no real hardship should be felt as their was little cream offering from now onwards until after August. He contended that centralisation and concentration on main roads was liable tp be overdone, and the ratepayers had some justification for objecting, He thought the by-law should be enforced. Cr. Mace considered that the bylaw was out-of-date. The council had to face the fact that motor traffic was superseding horse-drawn vehicles, and should arrange the maintenance of its roads accordingly, it was a serious injustice to think of closing down . any industries by penalising them with a by-law. Other counties had taken steps to safeguard their interests in the matter of heavy traffic’ on their roads in the winter, and it was . encumbent on Ohinemuri to do likewise. He favoured keeping the roads open and asking for a bond sufficient to cover any damage that might be done. It was the council’s duty to assist industries wherever possible. Cr. Hubbard said he agreed with Cr. McGuire. He pointed out that the enormous increase of motor traffic was sufficient testimony that it was one of the most economical means of transport, and it was the duty of the council, as far as it was practicable, to provide roads to carry it. The Government had recognised the growth of motor transport and the need for better roads by the institution of the Main Highways Act. He stated that it would be possible for the council to save considerably on maintenance by the operation of. the board, and quoted figures in support .of his contention. He considered that • the closing of industries by any action of the council was not to be thought "of as progress would be stifled, and serious hardships which the industries concerned must suffer would "eventually be handed on tp the rate-

payers. Every endeavour should be made to keep all road communications open and all possible assistance given by the council not only to the concerns from whom the letters had been received, but also to the Main Highways Board. Cr. Hubbard proceeded to quote figures that he had obtained from the Northern Steamship Co. showing that sugar was being conveyed from Auckland to the Puke at 15,s per ton, and flour at 12s 6d per ton, the average rate per ton being 12s Id, as against the charge of 56s by the Railway Department providing the preferential tariff was cut out. At the present time something like 2000 tons of general cargo was brought to the Puke by steamers for distribution throughout this district every month. In conversation with the company’s agent he had learned that if the company was to carry on with the river service it was imperative that the roads should be kept open to enable the goods to be carted from the wharf. The railway preferential tariff was only brought in to enable the railway to compete against the shipping company in the carriage of goods. In the event of the company being unable to continue the river service on a payable basis it would discontinue, and the Railway Department, finding no opposition, would discontinue the preferential tariff, which would mean an increase of freights to something like 44s a ton. A serious upheaval in every part of the community would result. He decidedly thought that all highways .should be kept open and a license fee charged, together with a bond, sufficient to recompense the council for damage done to roads by heavy cartage in winter. Cr,. Morgan said he was surprised at the change of opinions just expressed by the councillors on the matter, and he could find nothing in the letters before the meeting io cause the council to alter its former decision to enforce the by-law. It appeared to him that councillors were considering the interests of outside, concerns before those of the ratepayers. He felt confident in saying that three-quarters of the ratepayers were against allowing heavy traffic on the roads in winter, and if councillors did not intend to act hr the interests of ratepayers he would suggest that they resign their positions. The people agitating to keep .the roasd peoole agitating to keep the roads breakers and not road-makers. He regretted to see the trend of the arguments, and failed to grasp where any real hardship would result by enforcing the by-law. It was a scandal for the council to consider outsiders’ interesto before those of the ratepayers. Cr. Ccrbett had said that the Waihi people had agitated for the railway, and it was the property of the public, and he failed to see why the railway should be compelled to enter into competition with private concerns. So tar as the Dairy Company was concerned. when that company called tenders for cream carting it was stated in the .specifications that local body by-laws must be complied with, and he contended that the by-law should be enforced. He thought that too much outside influence had been brought to bear on the council in the matter. Or. McGuire took strong exception to the remarks, and maintained that the council was doing its best to act in the interests of ratepayers. If the roads were in such a state as tp warrant the enforcement of the by-law it would be a different matter, but he considered that such a drastic action was unnecessary. ■ He would ask the last speaker to withdraw the last portion of his remarks. Cr. Morgan said he would -withdraw them unreservedly. The chairman, said that he had given the whole matter ve.-y serious consideration, and was of the opinion that the by-law should be an elastic one. To enforce the by-law in its entirely would be the means of paralysing the country, and he fully agreed with the remarks made by Cr. Hubbard. The Paeroa-Waihi road seemed to be the main bone of contention. Stoppage of industries, and consequent unemployment, v/as not to be thought of. The cartage of goods, produce, and metal must be maintained, and the river service should be helped and encouraged. The enforcing of the by-law would have a far-reaching and serious effect, not only on the industries directly concerned but on the whole of the farming community. The following resolution was then moved by the chairman, and seconded by Cr. McGuire : “That having regard to the hardship which would be inflicted directly upon some sections of the community and indirectly upon the epunty ratepayers in general by the rigid enforcement of section 58 of the Heavy Traffic By-laws, each case of urgent heavy traffic during the winter months be dealt with on its merits by a committee to be appointed for the purpose, with power to act.” Cr. H. M. Corbett contended that the resolution could not be moved until the resolution passed at a previous meting dealing with the matter had been rescinded, and that could only be done by a unanimous vote or the council, but the chairman ruled otherwise. -Cr. Hubbard said that personally he had exhibited no change of front, and had maintained at the previous meeting that the council .should be prepared to compromise. Cr. P. Corbett opposed the resolution. He maintained that the reason why the Waihi road was in such good order was due to .the care and attention exercised by the engineer. Hi did not agree with Cr. Mace that the council’s by-laws were out of date. The Tauranga County Council was enforcing its heavy traffic by-laws, and other councils were acting similarly. Fertilisers for farmers invariably came into the district by rail, and the cream that would be carted at this time of the year was a negligible amount. The people who were howling to have the roads kept open were not ratpayers, and should not be considered before ratepayers. He could definitely state that the ratepayers in hi?. riding were unanimously in favour of Brenan and Co. and other carriers being kept off the roads during

the winter. He failed to see that the chairman was taking a broad-minded view of the matter, and the wishes of a majority of the ratepayers were to be sacrificed for the sake of carrying firms. Cr. Johnstone said that he had previously voted in favour of enforcing the by-law, but in view of the representations before the council he was of the opinion that a compromise should be made. If the council asked for heavy traffic license fees and a bond was entered into between the firms using the roads and the council he thought the ratepayers’ interests would be safeguarded. <’r. H. M. Corbett, speaking to the resolution, said that the river traffic wa-' a bogey, and preferential tariff on the railways had been in existence for many years.. He failed to see how the enforcement of the by-law would affect the river traffic, and it was absurd to think that it would. He remembered the Waihi Road being blocked for nearly six months, and the river service had still been maintained. Heavy traffic on main roads in the winter was causing concern in every county, and the council that came out on top was* the one that made its by-laws and was not afraid to enforce them. He maintained that unless the expenditure on the main roads was lessened the by-roads could never be put in order and adequately maintained, and in his opinion the out-lying settlers should receive first help and consideration from the council. The' only way to get down t' l bed-rock was to enforce the by-laws and decrease expenditure for maintenance. He moved an adjournment for lunch, and to enable him to prepare fin amendment to the resolution. On resuming, Cr. Corbett intimated that he had carefully considered the matter and was not prepared to mov3 an amendment because he was of the opinion that the chairman’s resolution was not in order. The resolution was then put and carried, Crs. H. M. Corbett, P. Corbett, and S. H. Morgan dissenting. Cr. P. Corbett then moved a further resolution, “That this meeting recommends that the committee exercise a strict supervision over all heavy traffic on the Paeroa-Waihi, Paeroa-Te Aroha, and Paeroa-Hikulaia roads.” At the request of the chairman Cr. Corbett agreed to alter the resolution, deleting the names of the roads and substituting the Paeroa-Waihi road from Black’s bridge, Owharoa, to Waihi. Cr. Morgan: 1 hope you are not climbing down. Cr. Corbett: No, I am not, but lam being pushed. In answer to Cr. 11. M. Corbett the chairman said that the committee appointed would be in power throughout the year. Cr. Hubbard contended that the resolution would only hamper the committee, and was unnecessary. Cr. Morgan did not agree, and said that the wishes and view,s of the councillors should lie taken into consideration by the committee. The resolution was then put and declared lost on the show of hands. The following comprise the special committee.;- Crs. A. R. Robinson (chairman), A. D. McGuire, W. F. Johnstone, and H. M, Corbett. Cr. Corbett said that if it was thought that he would hamper the committee in any way he was willing to stand down for another man. Cr. Hubbard said that he thought Cr Corbett was a very desirable person to have on the committee.