H—4o

The classes of road and the limits allowed under each class are as follows :

Table C—Maximum Axle Loads Permitted on Various Classes of Roads as at 31st March, 1950

At 31st March., 1950, the length, of rural roads which had been classified in one of the above classes was 27,326 miles out of a total of 49,173 miles of formed roads. Lengths of (a) rural roads, (b) main highways, and (c) State highways classified at 31st March, 1950, are set out in Table 4 of the Appendix. During the last year or more, consultations have been held with the roading authorities, commercial vehicle operators, and others concerned in the use on the road of heavy vehicles. On the one hand, the motor industry desires increased pay-loads in order to meet the demands made upon commercial transport to-day. This in turn generally means increased axle-loading. On the other hand, the roading authorities point to increased costs and other difficulties in building up and maintaining their roads to a standard capable of withstanding the heavier wheel loads of to-day. After prolonged discussions, the system of road classification has now been altered to take more fully into consideration modern trends in vehicle design and usage, and also the greater knowledge now made available by engineering research concerning the effect of wheel loads upon the flexible type of road pavement. At Ist June, 1950, the existing classification of roads will be revoked, and roads may be classified according to their suitability for carrying heavy loads in one of the classes set out below :

Table D—New Schedule of Loads Permitted on Various Classes of Roads Operative from 1st June, 1950

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Maximum Load on Any Axle. Classification. Two-axled Vehicle. Multi-axled Vehicle or Trailer. Class Three Class Four Class Five Tons. 4 3 Tons. 5 31

Maximum Loads. Class of Road. Two-axled Vehicle (Other Than a Trailer) and Not Drawing a Trailer. Multi-axled Vehicles or Combinations of Units. Axle Weights. Gross Weight. Axle Weight. Axles Spaced 8 ft. or More. Axles Spaced Less Than 8 ft. Class One Class Two Class Three Class Four Tons. 8 5 Tons. 30 23 16 12 Tons. 6 6 5 3 Tons. 6 5 3* 2J