TRAFFIC CONTROL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 310, 17 October 1929, Page 1

TRAFFIC CONTROL.

JOINT INSPECTORS. Matamata Views. The Piako County Council, writing to • the Matamata County Council with reference to traffic control and the appointment of inspectors, stated that they wished to push ahead with the appointment of an official to carry out inspection in their county, Morrinsville and Te Aroha Borough Councils, and they desired to know if the Matamata County Council would be prepared to enter into an arrangement satisfactory to all parties whereby the services of its inspector could be extended to the areas named. Thirty-three per cent of the nett costs to each county and the combined townships of Matamata, Morrinsville and Te Aroha was the basis recommended.

Cr. Bruce said the concensus of opinion at the conference was that no local body desired to lose control, though they recognised that inspectors were necessary. His opinion was if adequate control Wks exercised by outside counties it would relieve Matamata county, which had gone to considerable expense in controlling traffic.

Cr. Anderson stated it seemed that Piako wanted to work in with Matamata and no one else. If the work of the Matamata inspector was increased some of his other duties would have to be cut out.

The engineer pointed out that experience had shown that the local man would have sufficient to do to cope with stock and traffic over an area such as Piako and Matamata counties. The local man was essential to counter local tricks, as to whether a lorry driver came through at three or four a.m. For such points the outside expert was useless. The expert, however, would be necessary for speeding. He would be a sort of policeman on a motor cycle and might perhaps be capable of taking cases in court. Such a man might be able to cover 8 or 10 counties. Another factor was that highways fees might shortly be taken from them and these at the moment covered the inspector’s expenses.

Or. Dee stated he could see little advantage to Matamata in changing from their present system.

The chairman stated another thing was the new Transport Board might affect the position. Evidence from the counties would be taken by the board on Tuesday. Some of the counties did not bother about some duties, such as dog collars, which Matamata looked after, consequently their inspectors had less to do.

On the motion of Crs. Cox and Bruce, it was decided to write to the Piako County Council stating that Matamata’s inspector was fully occupied, but that the council was prepared to co-operate with regard to checking speeding.