MOTOR TRAFFIC BY-LAWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3026, 22 April 1926, Page 3

MOTOR TRAFFIC BY-LAWS.

DISCUSSED BY COUNTY DELEGATES. Napier, Last Night. The conference of delegates representing county councils from Wairoa to Pahiatua to-day discussed a proposal to ensure the more strict enforcement to traffic bylaws by the appointment of traffic police under joint scheme. Mr. J. W. Ellingham (Dannevirke, who introduced the subject, stated that motorists had now had sufficient time to understand the bylaws, and it was up to the councils to have them more stringently enfor ced than in the past. Traffic police would be provided with cars and weighing jacks. With the latter they could jack up a 'lorry and weigh it, and if found to be over- ' loaded the policeman could force part of the load to be immediately put off. Measures such as that would soon make ■ drivers careful. Others neglected to carry reflectors or had. loads projecting too far over the sides. Unless the councils worked together on a uniform system they would never get anywhere. “Mr. Ellingham’s suggestion is the solution,” said Mr. A. C. Russell (Waipukurau). “Threequarters of my lot would be in the dock for speeding if we had policing “ throughout the district.” Mr. H. M. Campbell, M.P., said: “(It is absolutely ffecessary that something should be done. Why I had a case told me that happened only within the last 24 hours when a car-driver had to do 58 miles an hour in an endeavour to catch a lorry and then couldn’t do it.” Delegates generally favoured joint action rather than each County acting independently. It was decided to ask all counties to give an expression of opinion on the proposal to institute such a scheme. PETROL AND TYRE TAX SUGGESTED. Mr. 11. M. Campbell M.P., moved the following motiojn which was carried: —■ “That this conference request The Prime Minitser and Minister of Public Wiorks to go into the question of the upkeep of the roads and see whether in fairness to the County ratepayer a much larger proportion of the cost could be collected from the owners of all motor vehicles than is done now.” The general opinion was that motorists should pay on a basis of the extent to which they used the roads by means of a petrol or tyre tax. ALLOCATING PEES. The conference discussed the allocation of heavy traffic license .fees. The borough representatives proposed an allocation on a basis of 50 per cent, population and 50 per cent, mileage of metalled roads which would result in the boroughs receiving 34 per cent, and the counties 00. The county delegates, however, ffroposed an allocation on a basis of 50 per cent, capital value and 50 per cent, mileage of mettallcd roads under which scheme the borough’s share would lie 18 per cent, and the counties’ 82.

As a result a deadlock was reached and the matter will now require to be settled by a magistrate.