THE COAST TRAFFIC

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 138, 6 December 1911, Page 6

THE COAST TRAFFIC

STATE OK MAIN SOUTH ROAD. During the past few weeks the Main South road has considerably broken up, and its condition has caused much anxiety and discussion. Yesterday the matter was discussed at considerable length at the meeting of the Taranaki County Council. The" question was first brought forward when a report was read from a committee which met on November 29, which read as follows: "The committee then discussed the extraordinary traffic on the Main South road conducted by Mr. Hugh Baily, in the name, of the Motor Transport Co. The committee agreed: 'That, provided Mr. Baily would enter into an agreement under section liso, Public Works Act, agreeing to rei instate all damage done to the road by his vehicles, the Council to be sole arbiter as to the amount of such damage, that no further action be taken in the matter,' and failing such agreement the Council take steps to regulate and if necessary prohibit all traction traffic on the Main South RoauV' The chairman said that it was hard to estimate the amount of damage done to the road. The sum of £3OO as estimated by the foreman would not repair it. The Motor Company had not done it all, but there was no doubt that the heavy traction traffic had started the trouble. Cr. Andrews pointed out that on ona occasion the traction engine had brought in 200 cast's of cheese, equal to 15 tons. The report of the committee was adoDted. Cr. McAllum gave notice to move at a special meeting to be held on Tuesday. Dec-ember 12, IUM, that classes 10 and 11, schedule of tolls, be altered to read as follows:—(10) for each steam motor engine or waggon not exceeding 5 torn in weight (inclusive or exclusive of load) £3, each trailer attached thereto 10s; (111) for each steam motor engine or waggon exceeding 5 tons' in weight (inclusive or exclusive of load) £'(!, eaci trailer attached 1 thereto £l. Cr. Andrews considered that the tollgate should .be shifted, and gave notice later on to move that the resolution passed on July 5, 1909, establishing a toll-gate at Puniho be rescinded, and j that the toll-gate now at Puniho be removed to the junction of Barrett and Main South roads. Iu the afternoon Mr. H. Baily, accom- J panied by Mr. Johnstone, (solicitor), waited on the Council. Mr. Johnstone addressed the Council at length. He pointed out that the first intimation they had had concerning the proposal to place a toll of £3 on steam motors up to five tons and £6 on steam motors up to ten tons was on Saturday last from the papers. He therefore asked the matter should be adjourned for a month. He believed that a mass of evidence could be got in a few days, which would show that all the damage attributed to the motors was not caused by them. Then, again, he pointed out that the interests of Mr. Baily were seriously at stake, and they should not take away his rights unless he was properly heard. In addition he emphasised that whether Cr. McAllum intended' it to be so or not, the effect of the imposition of such a toll would be that there vrouM be no more motor traffic on the Main South road. He did not, however, for a moment think that it would pass. Again he did not think it had been well considered, because the charge for a waggon weighing live tons was £3 and for°one only 21b over would be £O. The toll must have some relation to the damage caused. He considered' also that it was advisable in the interests of the public us well as those involved in the traffic to postpone consideration as asked. Such a prohibitive tariff would tax these waggons off the roads. It wrs everywhere conceded that motor traffic was not harmful. It was conceded that it was an efficient way of conveying the produce from the factory to the port and more speedy than horses. Apart from the damage done everything was in its favor. It was a progressive move, and the enterprise of those connected with it should be considered in their estimable desire to further the interests of the district by providing a better and more efficient means of transit. Thpy had already sank considerable capital in the venture. It was pointed out that in July the Council bad evidently been satisfied that no damage was being caused, because they had reduced* the toll to us and 3s lid. The trallic had continued and nothing further said until November 24, when they were told that the Council had resolved to make a charge of 30s per trip. That was not out of the way and Mr. Baily had intimated his willingness to pay the amount. Next he waa met by a committee of the Council, who asked him to agree to even less favorable conditions than the Public Works Act provided for, whereas the latter compelled anyone causing extraordinary, damage to pay the amount of damage a's estimated in a court of law, the Council wished him to pay such damages as the Council itself assessed. In other words, tin' Council iva, to be both judge and

advocate. He appealed for fair treat"|<:H. This road was the only means of transit for coast traffic, which was increasing at such a rate that horse traffic wotiM soon he out of the question, and it was only to bo expected that there would lie need for more steam or motor trallie in future. The real trouble was thai the road was not suitable for the needs of the district. It was too thin, and lie asked whether it would not be advNabte. before the Council adopted mini a retrograde motion to also stop ami consider whether there was not an alternative remedy by improving the road. lie pointed out that the ElIhiim County Council had the same trouble but had now gone in for a loan to put down a creditable road. He could bring cogent and valuable evidence which would show that motor traffic was really hcnelicial to good roads. He made ail earnest appeal to the Council not to effectually bar this traffic, but to see wind her means might not lie devised to , enable it to be carried on. and at the

same tinii' preserve tin- Council's rights. II" al-o ;>avc reasons thai conduced to I he .late „f the road. ]t was by no means new. iiiul was built when thi' p'lirnil trnflic was lighter Hum now. !'\(ll .-incc la.-i war t.lit* Weight (if cheese h:nl (Icmblcl: moreover. theVeatho.r Inul b-n i";m > : a-!y bsd. HU clients, lie > -.M-i.I-i-i-d. had met, the Council fairlv. ' .' i: -.v.i.- manifestly moi-trolls that tI".V should In. (~',! i; 1 two it: ■••..;' , U)( ;(,,, !•> ,":irk mm their tit. i.ii.l net out. This ■J'; v h.'il c<i-,il iv.'-ts i'r,:i;i 1 wo dairy «-..:!;j).<iiii's. am! h\- (he o>;peditw>us way in which tin- produce was handed over In I he frcczin.u: Works it was not desirable from the point of view of the settiers, as well as of the. companv, that hasty action should he taken. .Mr. llaily said that throe factories were now turning out cheese that were making butter last year, viz., Oaonui, llaliotu and Warra, and this meant two and a-half times the oartajje. 'Moreover, his contention was that apart from that there was considerably more ordinary traiiic. An Opunake resident, a wellknown dairy company secretary, had told him that the roads would have been iu-l as bad if only horses were used. Had the roadmen fdled up the small holes a.s thev occurred there would not | 'nave li..(!i trouble. Mr. Johnstone point- ! ed out mat irrespective of tolls the j Council could make the company pay

for any damage. The toll was an exaction over and above, and that was the unfairness of it. The difficulty of apportioning the damage should be no deterrent to the Council. Mr. Baily objected to being saddled with all the damage. He contended that even with the horse waggons the roads would wear out. He had sent the traction engine down on three occasions, and was agreeablo to pay 30s each for this. He did not know it had drawn IS tonß of cheese on one load. He did not propose to use -the traction engine again, but had arranged with a horse waggon to make three trips a week down the coast intsead of the traction engine once a week. The chairman was under the impression that the 30s toll was to refer to the steam waggons, not to the traction engine. Mr. Baily said the only damage Tie was prepared to admit was "a hole on top of the Timaru Hill, caused by a curve in the road. Cr. McAllnm said that their foremen's reports showed that it would cost at least £375 to repair the damage done by the traction engine, to which Mr. Baily retorted that tnat was just what he objected to.

II Mr. Johnstone said that his request was a moderate one. Ho was just asking that the matter be held over for a I month. If they could not come to an agreement they could settle by law. I He did not wish to appear to make a threat, but if an appeal were made and a commission set up, he felt that such charges might be held to be arbitrary, and not a bona fide method of collecting revenue for the purpose of keeping the road in order, but an attempt to stop the motors altogether. Cr. McAllum pointed out that SQOO yards of' metal were annually used in repairing 18 miles. I Mr. Johnstone said from his own knowledge and from expert opinion that the road was and always had been too thin, and would not carry heavy traffic. It never was a thoroughly equipped road. Mr. Baily pointed out that some of the road was four years old and some seven years old. Mr. Johnstone, in retiring, emphasised the fact that they did not admit any damage. After the deputation had retired, the chairman said the question had to be tackled sooner or later. Cr. McAllum: Sooner. It's the traction engine that has caused the trouble. Mr. Baily admits to three trips and the" foreman only reports on two. The traction engine crushes the metal and enables the horse traffic to go through the surface. He instanced the road through Okato township. Cr. Tate said that it was a vital question. It was a question whether they should stop the traffic or improve the road. The traffic was increasing, and the road, a main arterial one, was getting more costly to repair every year. If they stopped the motor, how many more horses and waggons would be needed to' cope with the traffic? He considered the motors did least damage. Owing to the grades and the district not being blessed with the best material, it was a difficult road to keep in repair. They had not the funds to make a thorough job and were continually patching it, and as one patch was going down the last was being destroyed. The riding was in debt and was likely to be. (From Cr. McAllum: No; no!). There was no railway or steamer to relieve the traffic. The revenue was not sufficient to maintain the road, and the toll was heavily taxing the public. He thought an appeal should be made to the ratepayers to have n solid road made that would last for many years, otherwise the position would always be bad. He thought it would be wise to hold the matter over. Cr. McAllum pointed out that the ratepayers had been paying a special rate, which had been expended in upkeep. !fW, though only three trips had been made, look at the state of the roads. He was the last man to check enterprise, but they must regulate traffic so that the ratepayers interests did not suffer. He pointed out .that all the coast traffic converged on Omata. He did not advocate delay. It was too serious. Whatever was done must be done promptly. Cr. Andrews asked how were the factories to get their produce carted if these motors were taxed off the road. There would not be enough waggons to cope with it. Even now some factories had difficulty in getting their produce away. The motor waggons did not do as much damage on a good foundation as the horses did. ! Cr. Billing thought a steel road was needed. Or. Hill said usually the Council adopted the recommendations of the foremen, whose reports showed damage. Cr. Andrews said the only remedy was either to go in for a special rate or to shift the toll-gate. The ratepayers would never sanction a loan. If the toll-gate were shifted to Omata it would bring in an'additional £50.0 or .€(500 per annum, and cost no more for collection. Tho travelling public would then pay the cost, which was the fair way. He thought the present %d rate ample. The toll could easily bo revised. He did not think the motor waggons did as much damage as horse waggons. I

The chairman said that the question before the meeting was not tolls. That would be discussed next week-. The question was whether to hold over taking action or not. Cr. Andrews was in favor of holding action over for a week. Cr. Stevens thought it was an urgent ease, and the longer the traffic continued the more expensive tho repairs would be. The chairman thought a week was sufficient. It was all very well to talk, but they could spend £20,000 and not make a road to carry 15 tons drawn by a 15-ton engine. When he went over the ronds he was taken aback at the difference in a month. Tt was so great as to be almost incredible. It wan resolved to notify Mr. Bailv that the matter would be held over until next week. Meanwhile the traction engine must not be used.

Tlio question of taking action for damage already ilniie was left to the chairman. Th» County Council asked to lie. informed a a to what steps the Council was taking in the. matter of the extraordinary traffic.—To be. informed of act inn taken up to the present.