TRAFFIC CENSUS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21236, 7 August 1934, Page 4

TRAFFIC CENSUS

A WEEK'S TALLY WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED MEN To obtain a reliable estimate of the traffic on Ihe highways of the Dominion i; ies will be taken by the Main Highways Board at 300 points throughout the country during the week beginning on August 25. The co-operation of the Unemployment Board has been gained, and permission has been given to use unemployed men on the work wherever it is possible. Canterbury includes three highways districts, to which 44 observation points have been allotted. These districts, which are under the supervision of Mr F. Langbein, District Public Works Engineer, will employ 92 men for the week. At most points the men will be on duty for two shifts, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., while at selected points another shift will take a tally from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The special points in Canterbury are at Chaneys, Church Corner, Tinwald, and Washdyke. Paying 1 the Men

While the unemployed men normally have three to four days' work a week, the Main Highways Board will be prepared to make up a full week's, work for each man, and whore no unemployed men are available the board will bear the whole cost. As the tally men at each point will work a full seven days, including a Sunday, the usual extra pay for Sundays will be allowed.

With 11,000 miles of highway in the Dominion, the arrangement will allow for an average of one observation point to every 37 miles. In more sparsely populated areas the distance apart will be increased. As far as possible urban points will be excluded. The figures obtained during the week will be representative of average winter conditions, and another census will be taken in January or February to

obtain summer figures. The results will give the first indication of Do-minion-wide traffic figures, as in the past only local tallies have been made.

The points in Canterbury will be distributed as follows:—Kaikoura - 2, Cheviot 1, Waipara 3, Amuri 2, New Brighton Borough 1, Kowhai 2, Waimairi 1, Paparua 2, Selwyn 2, Malvern 3, Halswell 1. Wairewa 2, Heathcote 2, Rangiora 2, Ashley 1, Ellesmere 1, Ashburton 7, Geraldine 2, the Levels 3, Waimate 2.