ABNORMAL MOTOR TRAFFIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2012, 7 August 1919, Page 2

ABNORMAL MOTOR TRAFFIC.

DISCUSSION BY MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL. The effect of the railway cut on the main roads in the district on count |of the increased heavy # traffic is (viewed with serious alarm by- . the Mana.watu County Council. At-r Tuesday’s meeting of that body Cr. Boyce, in drawing attention to the matter, askfd if (here was not a chance of prevailing upon the Government to pay an increased subsidy to local bodies affected by the increased vehicular traffic. He referred particularly,to,the road from Wellington to Wanganui. The roads were being badly cut up, and the position was getting serious, ; Sir Janies Wilson: All we can possibly- do is to raise a storm of indignation and got as, many people v as possible to insist on the Government doing something. They might do something then. The clerk (Mr A. K. Drew) re•porling on the result of his recent observations, stated that in five hours in oiie day 86 ears, 11 motorcycles and 3 motor lorries had passed the Council Chambers at Sanson. From 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. on another day IGI ears, 6 motor cycles and 11 motor lorries bad passed the same point. Motor cars were in addition also traversing the road all night long. Cr. Boyce’s remarks were endorsed by other councillors, who were also impressed with the excessive speed at which the ears hearing passengers from Wellington to Pal- . merston and northern points travelled. It was agreed that something should be done in the direction pi obtaining State assistance towards the upkeep of the main roads, and to Ibis end a resolution was adopted on the motion of Cr. Boyce, “demanding the Government to subsidise county -councils affected .towards repairing (be damage done by mail cars and oilier motor vehicles” in consequence of the increased traffic on the roads due to the ‘ curtailment of the railway service.

The clerk was also directed to communicate with the Wanganui, Rangitikei, Oroua, Kairanga, Horowhemia, Hutt and the Taranaki ly .Councils, asking their co-opera-tion in approaching the Government.