STREET TRAFFIC REGULATION

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1917, Page 8

STREET TRAFFIC REGULATION

POLICE MEASURES. It was noticeable on Saturday that Hie traffic in the streets of New Plymouth, though just as heavy on the roadways and on the footpaths as on any previous Saturday., was much more orderly, and attended with considerably less inconvenience, jostle, and unpleasantness than has usually been the cafe. This was due to the regulation of traffic methods adopted by the police under the municipal by-laws and the Police Offences Act, and also to the fact that tho general public had been duly apprised of what was intended by SubInspector Mellveney. Those who thronged the streets were fully aware of what was expected from them, and when, momentarily forgetful, they lingered in small groups to di-cuss matters of interest or exchange friendly greetings, I (hey readilv obeyed the official mandate | to keep moving. Sub-Tiispector Mellveney has already been congratulated, and complimented by leading citizens on the reform effected. "I don't believe," said one prominent townsman to the sub-inspector, "that any town in Xew Zealand to-night has there been so heavy a trail'ie so well regulated, and I certainly have never seen anything like it in Xew Plymouth before.'' To achieve the desired end an extra number of constables were on duty, Senior Sergeant Bowden took an active part, and the sub-inspector himself was bv no means idle.

In the afternoon the sub-inspector and senior-sergeant made a tour of inspection through the main streets, and noted ,in front of many of the shops that merchandise was exhibited 011 the footpaths. The owners were duly warned, and if they contravene the by-laws in this respect again prosecutions will inexorably follow. Some of tho offenders appear to be under the misapprehension that because their buildings are some little way back from the correct road line they are at liberty to display their wares on the smali separating space, but this is distinctly against the by-laws, unless that space is fenced in. One of the main obstacles to footpath traffic 011 Saturday night was the number of bicycles left standing against verandah posts and shop fronts, Of course, when the police were about no owners could be found for the machines, and so tliev were promptly shifted from the footpaths to the street water-tables, and there left to be recovered by those to whom ihev beloncr<il. In dealing with these bicvcles the police found that the machines themselves, with a few excep* tions. did not comply with the by-laws in that they had 110 alarm bells or effective brakes. This, as the sub-inspector desires to point out, may prove a very serious matter, as should such a bicycle be involved in a fatal accident the rider would be legally guiltv of mnn>lau!.'hter. The measures adopted by the police to enforce the law and the bv-laws will be continued, and now that all concerned have been duly and emplinticullv warned. the unpleasantness 01 police court proceedings should be avoided.