MAIN SOUTH ROAD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 143, 13 December 1911, Page 7

MAIN SOUTH ROAD.

i MOTOR TRAFFIC. A special meeting of the Taranaki ! County Council was held yesterday for I the purpose of considering the question ! of the upkeep of the roads and the reguilation of motor traffic. There were present: Messrs. J. Brown (chairman), R. Stevens, M. Hopson, G. Billing, C. Andrews, D. McAllum, 6. V. Tate and J. R. Hill. ARTERIAL ROAD. A deputation consisting of Messrs. S. W. Shaw, Griffiths and Johns, waited 'on the Council as representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Shaw said they were there as the outcome of a resolution passed at their last meeting to bring before the Council the desirability of having arterial roads made capable of coping with the increased traffic. The Main South Road was the one he wished to 'bring before i the notice of the Council. For a distance ' I of thirty miles it was unique as far as the county and roads in New Zealand were concerned. The conditions have changed during the past few years, principally through the traffic caused by the dairy factories. There is 110 prospect of a railway, and the Government will not allow private enterprise to construct one. The tonnage from the factories is about 1720 tons daily, in addition to pigs, firewood, etc. Taking into account the quantity of goods, manures, etc., carried outwards, it meant that the roads carried 5000 tons daily. The road is hilly and expensive to maintain, and now that the port is nearing completion the traffic i would shortly be doubled. He recognised ' that the Council had been doing a lot b. ! working with a roller and trying to keej 1 up to date. He said Cr. Andrews knew how the settlers were hemmed in, and the increase in cost of freight was 18s to £l. If the road were made to permit motor traffic there would be a saving of 25 per cent., and £1250 a year would be saved. The question also affected the Egmont County. Mr. Traser pointed out that a lot of goods were sent down the coast. Motor traffic had now taken the place of horse carts at the breakwater, and it was a shock to hear that the proposed motors ; would be barred on the road. He did not wish to dictate to the Council, who had to pay the piper. They would find that the age of the horse had gone in other countries, and it was only a. question of time when it would be gone here, i Taranaki was specially expensive for horses, as we had to get oats and hay from the South. If we could not get a railway, machinery would have to take the place of carts. Mr. Griffiths contended that the motor traffic would be the coming system. The road maintenance was a difficult one. If the money for the roadß were well spent the farmers would be better supplied. Air. Joints said he considered it important that the roads should be in good order for the convenience of consignees and consignors. Mr. Shaw said there could be a saving of 5s a ton on 6000 tons. It was to the interest of ratepayers that they had the cheapest form of carriage. lie did not advocate any particular form, but he contended that five or six horses in front of a load, knocking u<p stones, must damage the road most. He approved of the Council's method of making roads with a steam roller. Cr. Hopson said it was a question of finance, and he thought they would want tolls to meet the expenditure. , Cr. Hill said the matter had only just become "iiu, uii account of the excessive traffic. I Cr. Tate said that as the road had to I stand a lot of traffic the road required to be wider, with a greater depth of metal. A considerable amount of monev had been spent, but the revenue had decreased through the merging into other | areas. A toll gate had been put up and a special rate struck. He was alive to the fact that part of the country was not valued high enough. Cr. Stevens said the Council had shown a desire to make a good road, and he believed the whole of the road required remaking. He recognised that the motor was the coming service, but regulation of loads was required. Heavy traffic came from other districts, and he suggested co-operation with the Egmont County, and by combined effort they could get a road worth speaking about. The chairman said that as far as the Council was concerned, they did not wish to take the motor traffic off the road. The Council wanted to be treated fairly. When a traction engine of 15 tons and a 15-ton load behind were on the road they objected to it. The road was being put in good order when excessive traffic wai put on. In the near future he hoped they would have something satisfactory. ' Tn the long run a loan would be wanted, but the settlers would not vote for it unless the traffic was reflated. The returns from the toll-gate showed £SOO a year. The deputation thanked the Council and withdrew. No resolution was passed. MOTOR TRANSPORT COMPANY. Messrs. Johnstone (solicitor) and H. Baily waited on the Council with reference to reinstating damage causad on the Main South road by the company's vehicles. Mr. Johnstone read an extract from a letter, which stated that the steam waggons in Wanganui did less harm than horses. Mr. Baily said he was prepared to let Mr. Sladden estimate the amount of damage done, and he would pay for it. lie said he was not running that engine ou the road again. Mr. Johnstone suggested that the assessing of future damage also be loft to Mr. Sladden. He did not think there would be any. •The deputation then withdrew. After a brief discussion, Cr. Hopson proposed, and Cr. Tate seconded, that this Council enters into an agreement with the Coastal Transport Company, whereby they agree to pay cost of damage to the Main South Road as assessed bv Mr. Sladden, whose decision shall be final, and any future damage done by the company be also assessed by Mr. Sladden; that the Council pay half cost of damage already done, and any future cost of assessment to be paid by the Transport Company.—Carried. TOLL-GATES. Cr. McAllum's notice of motion re schedule of tolls was held over. Cr. Andrews moved the notice of motion standing in his name, "That the resolution passed on July 5, 1909, establishing a toll-gate at Punilio he rescinded, and that the toll-gate now at Puniho be removed to the junction of Basset and Main Souh roads." The mover said, by moving the gates, they would get £4OO a year. There was not sufficient money coming in from rates, and money must be had. Next year the rates would be increased, and the road would be put in fair repair. If that did not do it a loan or something else would have to be raised. Cr. Billing seconded the motion. The chairman said it meant establishing another gale, as they coulil not remove the one existing. Cr. Andrews asked if the Government would not allow them to do so if the circumstances were explained. Cr. McAllum said lie did not believe in paying for the heavy traffic from Egmont County. Out of 1100 tons of cheese

I taken to the freezing works, 1045 tons) | came from the Egmont Countv; 25 tons came from Omata. He protested against the gate being removed. If it were placed ' at the foot of Basset road it would pen- j alise settlers. It would ba a gross injustice to have to pay a toll on top of heavy rates. (Jr. Tate said the time was inopportune to bring the matter on. To move the gate would penalise settlers, and he suggested that the matter remain as at present. It would mean two gates. Crs. Hill, Stevens and Hopson agreed to allow things to remain as at present. Cr. Billing said' more revenue was wanted, and if they could not shift the gate they would have to provide for another. The chairman doubted the desirableness of another gate, and he could not support that idea. The road was improving until the traction engine came on the road. The toll-gate where it is is fair, as it makes those pay who use the road. Cr. Andrews said he was thinking of getting revenue. At the same time he did not think the Council had any sympathy for-the settlers on the other side of the gate. They could not even go to the post office or store without having to pay a toll. On the motion being put it was declared lost.