MASTERTON COUNTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1939, Page 3

MASTERTON COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL ~\ —— J HON R. SEMPLE’s'rEM ARKS t CRITICISED. PROPOSED TRANSPORT AMENDMENTS. The monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council was held yesterday. Those present were the chairman (Mr R. E. Gordon Lee) and Councillors W. I. Armstrong, G. Moore, H. H. Mawley, J. W. Colquhoun, P. R. Welch and J. Donald. Mr J. . Robertson, M.P., forwarded for the council’s information, a copy of the Transport Law Amendment Bill, which provided for amending the law relating to motor vehicles and road transport services. The transport amendments insofar as local authorities are concerned, were: —(1) Motor drivers licences to be issued by the registrar of motor vehicles and obtained through the Post Office, on and after June 1, 1940. (2) Fixing the licence fees payable for heavy traffic licences, and authorising the refund or remission of licence fees in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the regulations. (3) Giving the Minister of Transport authority to cause inquiry to be made in cases where the local authority has closed or proposes to close any road for heavy traffic, or to any class of heavy traffic, and whether having regard to all the relevant circumstances, it is reasonable that the road should be so closed. (4) Extending the provisions as to extraordinary traffic and the expenses incurred by the local authority in repairing the road by reason of the damage caused by excessive weight passing along the road, or by such extraordinary traffic. Councillor Armstrong: “With reference to the first clause I would like at this juncture to take strong exception to the recent remarks made, according to the Press, by the Hon. R. Semple in connection with counties not doing their share in keeping the roads safe. This county had an inspector for seven years, but in 1937, the Government in its misguided wisdom took him away—not us. We have always done our utmost in keeping the roads safe.” Objection to clause three was also taken by Councillors Mawley and Moore. Both councillors Stating that roads had only been closed when absolutely necessary arid that it was always for the benefit of the ratepayers’ pockets. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, advised that the Main Highways Board had now completed the annual review of main highways, and having regard to its financial commitments in respect to the existing highways system, it was not possible at present to consider any general increase in the mileage of main highways. Under these circumstances, the board was unable to favourably consider any application submitted by the council in this connection.

The Resident Engineer of the Public Works Department, Masterton, advised by letter that during the winter, there had been a considerable amount of stock unattended on the State highways throughout the Wairarapa, provided the council was agreeable to ranging the State highway, the Main Highways Board was prepared to delegate these powers to the council. No subsidy was payable by the board for this work, but all fees collected belonged to the local authority carrying out the ranging. The proposal was agreed to. A letter was received from the Commissioner of Transport expressing appreciation of the support of local bodies • in' the enforcement campaign against cyclists riding at night without lights and red reflectors, but the latest, figures showed that cycle accidents at night were still frequent. Of nineteen cycle fatalities during the past four months, 13 riders had 1 been killed at night. A poster had been designed, drawing attention to the necessity for proper equipment when cycling at night, and a number of copies had been forwarded to the council, and any assistance it might be able to give in arranging for their disposal, would be greatly appreciated. Councillor Moore: “It is extremely difficult to see cyclists and pedestrians on the highways at night, especially if they are wearing dark clothes. I consider that it would be a great benefit if they wore something white. Say a Councillor Mawley stated that in his opinion a reflector was not of much use as more often than not it was not seen by the oncoming motorist. “Personally I think that all cycles should be equipped with red lamps and not reflectors,” said Councillor Mawley, who moved a resolution to that effect. The resolution, which was carried, is to be forwarded to the Commissioner of Transport. The managing-secretary of the Wairarapa Hospital Board advised that the amount due by the council by way of hospital levy for the ensuing year was £5,654 ss. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following report was submitted by the consulting engineers, Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt:— Masterton-Castlepoint Main Highway: Bennett’s Hill to Taueru, reconstruction and sealing, 3m. 48chs. to sm. 50chs.: Good progress was being made with the realignment of the road from the end of the present sealing. Taueru deviation: Although hindered by adverse weather conditions very fair progress had been made during the month, approximately 80 per cent of the earthwork in the cuttings and fillings had been done. Kaiwhata Stream Bridge, Ngahape: The bridge had been completed except for miqor matters which were being attended to. v