MOTOR WAGGON SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 183, 7 September 1909, Page 4

MOTOR WAGGON SERVICE

1 OPUXAKE - XEW PLYMOUTH TRADE. The formation of the company to pro mote motor-waggon traflle -between Upunake and New Plymouth is proceeding satisfactorily. The type of waggon to lie need is the new vehicle. TOLLS AND TYRES. Messrs Xewton King and Hugh Baiiy, representing the promoters of the company, waited on the Taranaki County : Council yesterday and asked that the Council take into consideration the reduction of the toll charges o\\ motorwaggons -passing through the Pun iho toll-gate. Mr. King pointed out that the Council had imposed a charge of 10s, but, of course, the Council had not contemplated waggons of the type they proposed to use. lie submitted a printed illustration of the waggons. They were built to carry two tons weight, and, 1 were fitted with solid rubber tyres. He was of opinion that such waggons would do less damage than a live-Horse team would do to the roads, and under those circumstances they might fairly reduce the proposed charge. The company was i being formed for carrying butter and general goods between Opunake and Xew I Plymouth. Each car would weigh 1% ' tons, and the average speed would be j from eight to ten miles an honr. The | tyres were .six-inch tyres on the back wheel and four-inch tyres on the front j wheels. hi answer to Cr. Allanson, Mr. King said the wheels were not -steel studded. I Mr. Baily further informed the Coun-1 eil that the back wheels were really a j double wheel, so that the weight was | •well divided. The company was being 1 formed for passenger traffic and general j goods carriage along the coast. The | ipeed would not exceed ten miles an 1 hour, for that was the most effective , and the most economical speed. He I pointed out that the present waggons, with their five horses, carried about the same weight 011 their 2 , / a -inch tyres. Mr. King said they were anxious for the Council to decide the point as early as 'possible, for the dairy companies were now inviting tenders for the cartage of their produce for this year, and this compauy wished to tender. Ths price would depend, of course, upon -toll charges. In aanswer to Cr. Carter, Mr. King .said the first waggon would be here in about six weeks. Cr. Andrews: J>o you want a concession, or to run through free. 'Mr. King: Oh, we ask for concessions. We wouldn't mind going free, of course, but Ave want only a fair thing. The deputation, in answer to queries, stated that there would probably be five motor-waggons. There were 10 or 12 waggons on the road now. One trip daily was proposed, sometimes two, perhaps. The directors were prepared to pay half the cost of any expenses entailed in altering the schedule. The company was allowing £I4G per annum for damage to tyres. Cr. Allanson said it was never contemplated that there would he waggons of this type. They would do Ices damage than horse teams, and a 3s or 4s toll should suffice. He was prepared to move in that direction.

Cr. Carter pointed out that nothing could foe done except by notice of motion. He explained that he was not opposed to'the reduction, but the Council must do things in proper order, for any irregularity might cause the whole schedule to be upset. The chairman said that wasj bo, but he was prepared to accept a motion that would give councillors an opportunity of indicating whether or not they were favorable to an amendment of the tariff to meet the deputation's wishes.

Cr. Tate welcomed the new traffic, which would reduce that traflic which •was giving so much trouble to the county all the year round. . Cr. Andrews suggested that the charge should be 3e>, equal to the charge for jive-horse waggons, Cr. Hopson couldn't sec why the charge should be less than t)ie motorcar fees. Cr. Andrews pointed out that this was going to be of benefit to the man who had to maintain the roads. The chairman said that, according to j English newspapers, motor trallic was do- j ing as much damage at Home as the horse traflic had done. He would have liked the company, before making this application, to have run their cars for a couple of months vso that their effect upon the roads could be ascertained. It the Council were going to make a reduv ; tion he would not be in favor of reducing the fee below ;"><?. Cr. Carter said the Council must remember that the toll-gates were erected to help s thc Omata riding out of debt. The principal toll revenue was from the waggon traffic, which these motor waggons were going to displace. Again, by next rear the right might be removed from this county's control by the formation of the Kaitake county. The cluurmau: I'm not gambling on that. It may not come off. I hope it does, though. I'd like to be rid of the whole Tot of it.

The councillors decided that the schedule might fairly be amended, and Cr. Allanson will give notice on the question for next meeting. It was evident from the tone of tile desultory discussion that* the Council would not fix a fee until the councillors had seen the waggons at work. Another feature introduced into the discussion was that it would be necessary to reduce the

motor-car tolls if motor-waggons were allowed to pass through the gate for throe of four shillings. The matter will come up again at next meeting. RUBBER Ti'RES: AN EXPERIENCE. The Ki'witea County Council wrote to the Council:—"ln reply to your letter of the 12th inst. re motor traffic, I am directed to inform you that at the (pre* sent time there are no -motor-waggons running in this county. By past experience this county can state that the waggons with rubber tyres did not damage the roads more than ordinary vehicular trattic, but the large waggons with iron tyres did considerable damage in wet weather."