HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4899, 4 November 1925, Page 1

HEAVY TRAFFIC.

classification of roads. a-s-r-— MOTOR LORRY REGULATIONS. The following circular was received. from the Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, Wellington, and discussed at last Thursday’s meeting of 'the Ohinemuri County Council “I forward herewith copy of Order-in-Council amending the motor lorry regulations. Your attention, is particularly drawn to regulation No. 5 of these amending regulations, which adds a six-ton class to -the classes- in accordance with which roads oi streets may be classified under the original regulation No. 7. “I have to state for youn information that so far none of the proposed classifications of local authorities has been approved because of this proposed additional class, which should be taken into consideration; and also because the correct procedure ' does not appear to have been followed by the various local authorities proposing to claissiyf roads. ’When the original regulations were drafted it was not contemplated that it would be necessary for local, authorities to classify every road in ,their districts, and it should'now be borne in mind that a classification of roads should not be repressive, as by comparison with the past the bringing into, force of the motor lorry regulations has generally made available for local authorities more funds for the maintenance of roads in the shape of heavy traffic fees, ai)d there is, flherefoie, as sound reason for saying that the motor lorry traffic should not be unduly restricted; but, of course, the roads must still be safeguarded, even though there is now considerably more money for their upkeep.

“Further, Regulation No. 7 of the Motor Lorry Regulations requires the local authority to cxcr.icse its discretion with regard .to each road and street, and it hats already been judicially decided that in cases of that nature the whole of the roads of the county could not be dealt with in bulk as appears to be the general policy adopted in practically every case of classification that has come to hand. It will also be noted that Regulation No. 7 requires public notice to be given of-the names of each of the roads proposed to be classi-, lied. This does not so far appear to have been done. Under .these circumstances I have to request that the ■amending regulations be taken into consideration before any roads are finally classified, and, further, that the provisions of Regulation No. 7 be strictly complied with sb that classifications when approved of by the Minister will not be liable to be upse.t 'through failure to comply with the preliminary procedure laid down by Regulation 7.” The chairman said It appeared to him that the board did not want all the roads classified.

Cr. H. M. Corbett said that some of the roads were not sufficiently used to warrant classification at present. Cr. P. Corbett thought the roads should be individualised, for the information of ratepayers! and the general public.

The clerk stated that .the names Of the roads. would be duly advertised when .the council’s classification was finally approved of. In. answer to Cr. S. H. Morgan the chairman said that a road could-be classified at any time. After further discussion the matter was referred to the chairman, engineer, and clerk- for attention.