REGULATING MOTOR TRAFFIC

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 249, 26 November 1909, Page 4

REGULATING MOTOR TRAFFIC

DISCUSSION BY BOROUGH COuNlli.

•A PIECE W LUPERTiNENCJ:

In answer to the letter from the Borough Couuoil requesting tlicm to draft by-laws for the regulation "01 motor-car Uaiiic in the borough, as set out iu a resolution of the Council, the borough solicitors, Alessrs. Govetl ami yuilliam, wrote the Council as under, and the letter came before the Uollm.ii at its meeting on Wednesday night:— "Before drawing the required by-law, it will be necessary lor the Council lo pass a resolution to the following clfect:—That this Council is satisliod that the use of motors travelling at any rate of speed beyond that staled below on the portions of streets hereafter mentioned is attended with risk of danger to the public: On Devon-street between Liardel-streel and Queen-street; on Brougham-street from Devon-street to St. Aubyn-slreet; on Eginont-slrect. from Devon-street to St. Aubyn-streel; 011 Curric-strcet from Courtenay-strcct to Gill-street; on Gill-street extension from to St. Aubyn-sireet—ten miles an hour; on any other portion of the streets of the borougii, lil'iccu miles an hour; when travelling round any corner of any street in the uoroiign, three miles an hour.

"Oil tliis resolution being passed we will submit the draft by-iaw. When the by-law lias been adopted by the Council, a copy must be seal lo [lie Minister of linenial Affairs, and lie may disallow tin; same. When Ihe by-law conies into operation, the Council must set up signposts on the portions of streets mentioned and at every street leorner, denoting the different limits of speed at which motors may be driven. We feel it our duty to say that in our opinion the .Minister of Internal Affairs would disallow the proposed bylaw. Under the existing law every person is liable to a penalty of -.tin who drives a motor on a public highway recklessly or negligently or at a speed or in a manner which iv dangerous to the public, having regard to all the circumstance of tile case, including the nature, vonilition, anil use of the highway, and the amount of traffic which

actually is at the time, or winch might reasonably lie expected lo be on the highway. We may add that it is the duly of the police to prosecute any person offending against this provision, and in our opinion the terms of the statute arc wide enough to effectually prevent motors being driven aL an* excessive apeoil in any part of the borough." Cr. Dock'rill stated that, notwithstanding the solicitors' opinion, lie was satisfied the Council should proceed with the. by-law. lie would defer to the wishes of the motor-car owners by conceding another mile an hour ia turning corners, making that speed four miles an hour. The by-law should be made, and if the .Minister refused it then it would be his look-out if anyone was killed. Let the accident happen at the dictation of the Minister. The Council would have clean hands.

Mr. Gilbert said ho was willing lu increase the street-corner speed to four miles. That would probably ue the speed if a three-mile limit were fixed, any way; and if the Council lixed live miles, the ears would go round at ten miles au hour, lie had no doubt, lie considered it "a piece of impertinence for Messrs. Govclt and Quilliam to give an expression of opinion at all as they had done." They had been asked to frame a. by-law, and they should have done it. The Council hadn't asked for an opinion, and didn't want one, but ho supposed they'd have to pay a couple of guineas' for it, all the same, ff Messrs. Govett and Quilliam were not prepared to do what they were torn, ihcn the Council should get some solicitors who were. As for the statement that the police had powers under the motor legislation, he was surprised thai they had not taken action long ago. The Mayor said ho wouldn't like to see "the whole town placarded with signboards" prohibiting motor-car traflic except at certain stated speeds, fuuicy a big placard at every comer in the town! lie hadn't intended proceeding with the making of the by-law upon finding out the scope of the present legislation. Or. Hooker said he had always been opposed to the passing of the by-law, on the ground that it would make the Council look ridiculous. Cr. Dockrill eaid he'd rather be ridiculed than blamed for the death of one of the burgesses. Cr. Browne said he would favor passing it by-law if only for the purpose of securing !o the borough inspector the powers that Ihe police failed to exercise.

Cr. Wiilkin» remarked that several motor-car owners had told him that a fair tiling would be a. speed limit of fifteen miles an hour in the borough, and live miles an hour in turning street corners.

Upon Cr. Gilbert!* suggestion it was decided that the town clerk should write to (lie Clnialehiircli, Wellington, and Auckland City Councils and other centres where motor regulation by-laws were in force, a-'king for copies of the by-laws; and Unit further consideration bo deferred pending the receipt of replies.