HEAVY TRAFFIC BY-LAWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1696, 10 April 1917, Page 3

HEAVY TRAFFIC BY-LAWS.

In order to stop the cutting up of the Main Street as far as possible, the local Borough Council intends enforcing the by-law dealing with heavy traffic. In conversation with the Town Clerk, he states that the by-law in question was made under the provisions of subsection J of Section 344 of “The Municipal Corporations Act, 1908," and is to all appearances a reasonable one, and one which would be upheld in any court. It is not registered, being made before the coming into force of “The By-Laws Act, 1910.” Registration, however, (hough it may be desirable in some cases, is not essential, and any plea to have a case thrown out on that point would not be upheld. Section 78 deals with the width of tyres, and the requirements of same are as follow: Vehicles without springs carrying over $ and not more than If tons to each pair of wheels (including weight of vehicle) shall have a tyre of not less than Tins, in width; vehicles without springs carrying over If tons and not more than 2 tons to each pair of wheels, not less than sin.; over 2 tons and not more than 2 tons uewt., not less than din. Vehicles with springs carrying over :f (on and not more than If tons to each pair of wheels not less than 3 in. tyres; over If lons and not more than 2 tons, not less than 5 in. tyres. Section 79 provides that any police officer, or anyone acting under the authority of the Council, may stop any vehicle on any street for the purpose of seeing if the by-law is being complied with, and for this purpose may measure any tyre, and weigh or compute any load, and any person refusing to permit such examination or in any way hindering or obstructing same, shall be guilty of an offence. This part of the by-law is being continually broken, more especially by flax carts using the .Alain Street, and the inspector has been instructed to compel observance in the future. In a case that recently came under notice a vehicle without springs was carrying over two tons 14 cwt, to a pair of wheels with tyres of about live inches. If an improvement in existing conditions is not made, the Council may lind it necessary to totally prohibit heavy traffic in Main Street between Wharf Street corner and Ravensworlh Place, under the powers of Section 10 of “The Public AVorks Amendment Act, 1910,” by which the Council has power by notice publicly notified, to direct that any heavy traffic as defined by “The Public Works Act,” or any special class of traffic defined in such notice, shall not proceed between any two points or places by way of any road or sired, or any roads or streets, mentioned in such notice. Under this section the Council could absolutely prohibit any class of traffic from using Main Street between the points before, mention-