HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENSES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5415, 24 April 1929, Page 2

HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENSES.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I am prompted to write in the columns of your paper, and on this occasion hope I am endeavouring to know if justice is meted out *where justice is due. Should my ideas in the matter be wrong, may be the body concerned, individually or collectively, will give rein to some of the facts which prompted their action, as appeared in the columns of youi’ paper of Monday. I am referring to the heavy motor traffic license remit forwarded to Wellington by the Paeroa Borough Council at its last meeting. They apparently wish to keep on penalising unduly any individual or body who was unfortunate in buying a heavy motor vehicle to transport the goods of others or his own. When the roads were classified into fourgroups the lorries, according to their weight, had specified areas to cover and certain loads to carry which would not unduly harm these roads. If they abused these regulations the controlling bodies had the matter in their own hands—Paeroa Borough Council included. Is the latter body implying that the classification of the roads is incorrect or impracticable ? The heavier vehicles, which move more slowly (provided they adhere to the classification), do the road more good than harm, as they press down the loose metal and blinding. The fast-travelling light vehicles throw the loose metal anywhere, and the suction of the tyres lifts the blinding, and this does all the harm. The average surfaceman (who is in a position to judge) on the county roads will verify this. The average light car pays about £4 or £5 a pair for tyres, whereas a lorry of moderate threeton capacity pays £BO a pair for solids. The former runs about 20 or 25 miles to the gallon, the latter four or five miles. Cars pay £2 for an annual license, as against £6 and £36 up to £75 for heavy traffic fees. Surely, with the benzine and tyre tax the heavy lorries are paying thenfull share ! I would like to hear the other side, if they are not. With the heavier lorries the running expenses are very heavy, and independent of heavy traffic fee and license, they are being scrapped automatically.

The five-horse teams with four tons, on 21 to 3-inch tyres (which leave the worst impression on the main roads, and on the bituminised roads in summer), pay little or no fees, and pass without mention ; also the heavily laden drays. How many of the councillors know what the heavy traffic fees are, or have gone into the matter thoroughly ? I would like to know, so that I may correct my impression that the Borough Council is endeavouring to extort more money than is reasonable from one particular class of ratepayer to help the other and themselves. With the road classification enforced, what could be more just than the benzine and tyre tax alone ? J. H. EVANS, ' Ratepayer.