THE “GLAXO” LORRIES.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 73, 14 March 1918, Page 1

THE “GLAXO” LORRIES.

Dairy Association’s Reply To EViatamata County Council. At the Matamata County council meeting on Friday a reply to the council’s representations in connection with the alleged damage caused by “ Glaxo ” lorries was received from Mr H. E. Pacey and considered. The letter was as follows : —“I met a committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs Banks and Pohlen. We fully reviewed the whole question of extraordinary traffic, and in respect of the road between Matamata and Waharoa we agreed to assist in connection with repairs which needed immediate attention by carting and spreading certain metal which would be supplied by your council. We expressed to your committee the conviction that the whole question of motor traffic should be considered and dealt with by your council, for I think everyone agrees that motor traffic has come to stay. The construction of permanent roads of concrete or tarred macadam will, I venture to suggest, be worthy of consideration as a solution of the question, and the cost would, of course, need to be aoportioned amongst the users of the road according to their respective traffic. Meanwhile with a view to finding an early means of meeting the difficulty I have to suggest that your council should adopt as an interpretation of extraordinary traffic 2i tons upon each pair of wheels, provided such wheels are equipped with 8-inch tyres, and pei-haps as a further precaution the speed of the vehicle could be limited to, say 12 miles per hour. If this interpretation will be given by your council for the future we offer, without prejudice, to make a payment to the council of £125 to cover cost of damage, to the 31st May next, to the roads of your county by the lorries which are used in connection with the Glaxo factory at Matamata. I understand that at the present time your council desires that any vehicles which impose a burden of over one ton upon any pair of wheels should be equipped with four tyres, and that the traffic becomes extraordinary traffic when tons is borne by each pair of wheels. Jf this is correct I respectfully submit that the suggestion which I now make of 2 ]/i tons on a pair of wheels with 8-inch tyres is a more advantageous one, and would result in less damage to the roads. I trust the foregoing proposition will be acceptable to your council and await its decision with interest.” The chairman said that the figure of £125 was arrived at by the engineer’s estimate, but deleting the amount he had allowed for screenings. Mr Pacey maintained that screenings had never been on the road.

C'r. Pohlen said screenings were not obtainable at the time the road was put down, but that an extra 2 inches] of metal had been put on instead. Cr. Stopford said from what he could gather it was the trailer which was causing the damage.

Cr. Banks said if the council accepted the offer of £125 it would be committed to adopt the suggestion of Mr Pacey. He thought the council should accept tho £125 with a stipulation that in future no motor lorry should be heavier with the load than three tons. He was convinced that the roads would not stand anything heavier. Regarding the width of tyres he was not expert enough to give an opinion; but he would like to see the weight of tho lorries reduced. Cr. Stopford sard he would he sorry to cripple any industry, yet if the council passed tho cpiestion it would be forced upon it again in the near future. The main thing was to secure a reduction of speed with a fair weight. Cr. Pohlen was not in favor of accepting the terms stated in the letter. As regards the suggestion of tarred or concrete roads he was convinced that no man would be able to persuade the

ratepayers of the riding to sanction a loan of the amount which would be required. He thought the traffic was too far ahead of the times, and in consequence the ratepayers interest should be safeguarded. Cr. Banks said if the council deferred the question any longer the date mentioned in the offer would be passed. Cr. Pohlen said he would not like to see the Glaxo suppliers interfered with for the present season, but he was right against wasting ratepayers’ money on the road ; or the council committing itself as asked. He was of the opinion that the lorries in use would cut up the road as fast as it was repaired. Cr. Pohlen proposed and Cr. Banks seconded that Mr Pacey be written to stating that the council could not accept his suggestion to allow lorries and loads of 4H tons in weight to run over the road, but that it be restricted to 3 tons with a maximum speed of nine miles per hour. On Cr. Banks’ motion it was also decided to ask Mr Pacey to pay over the £125 which lie had practically promised the council for repairs to the road, the amount to be expended “ without prejudice.”