LORRY TRAFFIC AND PIAKO ROADS.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 70, 21 February 1918, Page 1

LORRY TRAFFIC AND PIAKO ROADS.

Council Asking Glaxo to Pay for the Damage. On Monday Mr P. Nathan, representing the Glaxo company, was present at the meeting of the Piako County council to discuss the question of damage done by the lorries used by his companies to the roads. The chairman said the extraordinary traffic of the Glaxo company had put some of their roads out of action. Mr Nathan: Oh, you have some roads, have you ? Cr. Walters: We had, before your company came. The chairman, continuing, said the engineer reckoned that the damage up to the present was at the very minimum £SOO. Mr Nathan: Have you any concrete proposition to put before me? The chairman : Not at present. There was no money or labor, and they had to deal with the damage. Mr Nathan : They were metalled then ? The chairman : Yes. Mr Nathan contended ..there was not a road in the district. The worst piece of road was two miles at the Norfolk Cheese factory, and the " people who are supposed to look after this ought to be put in gaol." Have you any proposal that can be laid before " the boards to improve the roads so that they can carry motor traffic, he asked. The Glaxo industry was here. Was there any way in which the roads could be made fit for traffic ? What are you doing about the cars which go at excessive speeds ? h Cr. Walters : What'can we do ? The chairman pointed out that the roads were doing all right until the excessive traffic was put on them. The scarcity of labor and money placed the question of putting down a permanent road out of question. He was astonished if they had no roads that Nathan & Co. should bring up lorries. Mr Nathan: They would not have done so if they had taken my advice. Continuing he said his company objected to being the only birds to be shot at. Other vehicles were doing damage. He suggested setting up a committee to meet him to discuss what could be done. He said that his company was willing to assist in a concrete road. If they wanted to tax motors they should institute toll gates. The chairman explained that the council set down the minimum damage done through Glaxo carting at £SOO. Mi" Nathan: Do I understand that you ask us to contribute £SOO to putting the roads in good repair for the winter. Cr. Walters : I don't think they will stand through the winter. Mr Nathan: What are you getting from the ether motor j cars ? j The chairman: They do not come under heavy traffic. Cr. Smith pointed out that cars were running about over the roads, and there were no great damage done until the Glaxo lorries were put on. The chairman: Is it a fair thing that ratepayers who are getting nothing out of Glaxo andf use the roads rarely should pay for the roads. Mr Nathan: No, it is not. The fairest way is to put up a toll gate; that will make everybody pay a fair share. Or. Walters joined issue with Mr Nathan, and argued the impossibility of toll gates. Mr Nathan urged the council to admit the principle and set up i a committee to go into the whole matter. He argued that if there were good roads people would use them. His company wanted good roads and were prepared to pay a fair share. The chairman pointed out that Mr Nathan whs only trying to defer the matter. The council knew that damage had been done by the lorries, and he considered the amount it was assessed at was very moderate. Mr Nathan said his boards would go into the matter, but in his opinion they would ask that other cars should be called upon to pay their share. The chairman: We can't do that. You are asking an impossibility, Mr Nathan.

Mr Gilchrist, the council's solicitor, pointed out the degal position, contending that the Glaxo traffic was "extraordinary traffic" within the meaning of the Act. Mr Nathan : We do not deny that, but we are not going to pay for the damage done by other vehicles. ; Mr Gilchirst said the engineer,, who never saw the roads before November 7th had had them under observation and pir; down the damage as follows : —Stanley road £l5O, Nguturuanga road, three sections, £202, and the Te ArohaWaihou road £l5O, making a total of £SOO. Allowance was made | for other traffic. Mr Nathan : If we subscribe any money we'll want to say how it is to be spent. Cr. Smith : Will you take over this section of the road ? Mr Nathan : No. Mr Gilchrist: You are not being asked to subscribe, you are being called upon to pay for damage you have done to the road. Mr Nathan asked for the proposal to be sent in in writing. He was certain that any contribution would carry with it a coudition that his company could be consulted on the expenditure. Mr Nathan intimated that he was bringing an engineer down and asked that the Council's engineer go round with him. After Mr Nathan's withdrawal the Chairman, Crs. Walters and Fitzgerald were appointed a sub- " committee to go into the matter with the solicitor, and make a thorough inspection of the roads before putting in a claim.