HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7959, 9 February 1906, Page 3

HEAVY TRAFFIC.

ON THE MASTERTON COUNT*" BOADS. THE MATTER DEALT WITH. A meeting of the Mastertou County Council, in Committee, was held, on Wednesday afteraoon, to consider the question of imposing license fees on vebioles eugaged in aoavy traffic on roads within the County, There were present—Crs Cock burnHood, (ohairman), Welch, Harris, Morris, Toogood, Guild, and Holmes Warren.

There were, also, present—Messrs J. M. Coradiue, A. MoLeod, J. 0. Ewington, and F. 0. Daniell, representing the sawinilliog iudustry. At the request of the Chairman, Mr Coradine addressed the meeting on the subject of licensing vehicles engaged in heavy traffic, and submitted the following alternative proposals in lieu thereof as regards the sawmilling trade:—(l) That instea.l of a yearly tax, each miller contri bute, say, Is per 1000 ft towards the maintenance of the" roads—that is to fcav, if tho mill produced 700,000 superficial feet per year, the Council would receive the sum of £32 for the year. (2 ) That the weight of loads be regulated to about tons (say 3,100 superficial feet full measurement of timber) during seven months of the year, and 5 tons (2,500 feet) for the remaining five months. If the timber be seasoned 500 superficial feot extra be allowed on each five boree load. Thes« loads to l*e carried on tyres of not less than 5 inches in width, and the hin'd wheels not to be less than 5 feet 2 inohes in diameter. An additional 200 feet to be allowed for each inch the tyres exceed 5 inches —that is to say, if 8 inch tyres be used, 3,700 superficial feet would be the summer load and 3,100 superficial feet the winter load on metalled roads. Mr Coradine spoke at some length on tho above proposals, and after being informed by the Chairman that the proposals would receive consideration, the deputation withdrew.

There was laid before the meeting a statement supplied by the Secretary of the Sawmillers' Association showing the output from the mills belonging to Messrs Coradine and Wbittaker and A. McLeod for the year ended January 31st last, to be 1,308,724 superficial feet.

A letter was read from Councillor Kebbell, regretting his inability to attend the meeting, and intimating that he was not averse to imposing tho fees mentioned in clauses 1 to 4 of the schedule of proposed license fees, but objecting to BDy fees being imposed upun any ether description of traffic.

At th ! a stage Mr W. G. Beard, County Solicitor, attended the meeting, and Cr Welch asked whether, if the Council decided to adopt the proposed schedule of fees, farmers carting their own produce to market would be subject thereto. Mr Beard said that he was unable off hand, to give his opinion on the question, but suggested that the schedule should be placed in his bands for perusa), and that he would advise the Council ia due course as to whether it was in order The proposed schedule of license fees to be imposed on vehicles eagaged ia heavy traffic on roads in the County reads as follows:—(1). Po' every traction engine drawing any machinery or vehicles used in connection with threshing, chaff-cutting, or hay and ptraw-pressing, £5. (2). For evfcry traction engine drawing firewood, roaa metal, wool, flax, bricks, chaff, grain, and building or fnoing material, £5. (3). For each track used in the transportation of any of the goods or material mentioned in clause 2 hereof, £25. (4). For every four or five horse waggon engaged in the transportation of timber or goods, £25. (5). For every bullock dray, £25. (6). For every four or five horse brake, £2O. (7). For every lorry, £2O. (8). For every two and three horse brake, £lO. (9). For every two and three horse dray, £lO. 10. For every one horse dray. £5.

A lengthy discussion took place and ultimately the Chairman moved, and Cr Warren seconded, "That the County Solicitor be instructed to draft a by-law imposing the license fees contained in the first four sections of the schedule now before the committee, but eliminat ing the word 'goods' in the section 4, and substituting thereof the words 'whether sawn, split, or in logs,' suoh by-law to limit the maximum weights to be oarried to six tons." The resolution was carried. The Clerk was directed at the same time to ask the County solicitor whether a by-law imposing license fees would interfere in any way with the operation of the wheel-tire by-law now in foroe.

■ On the motion of Cr Too«ood/seoonded by Cr Warren, the following motion was carried:—"That the schedule No. 1 to by-law No. 1 be amended in the following mannerIn the case of four wheel vehicles with springe, the width of tirea to be increased if drawn by four horses from 2 y z in to 3>£in, by five horses from Zylya. to 4in, by aix borsea from &%\n to Sin, by seven or more horseß from s}on to Gin, the foregoing alterations to apply only to all roads in the Wainuioru Biding on the eastern side of Tauoru bridge, on the main road, and in the Opoki Riding to tho Opalri District Road from Harding's Cutting to the bridge over the Ruamabauga River on the Manricevillo County boundary." On the motion of Cr Hm-ris, seoonded by the Chairman, the following resolution was carried—"That sections 6 to 9 (ioclußive) of the schedule of license fees be introduced into the by-law, but made to apply only to vehicles engaged in carrying timber whether sawn, split or in logs, and to the carriage of flax, on the following roads: Mikimiki. Matahiwi, Te Mara, Kiriwhakap«pa, and the Upper Opaki and Pairua Swamp Roads."