THE TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8839, 16 May 1914, Page 4

THE TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

A SUGGESTED BOYCOTT,

Under the heading of "A, Grievance," the Timaru i( Post " publishes the following editorial: — . Motorists: iii Canterbury,, and farther afield, are mirsiiig a'very serious grievance against \ the ■ ' Ashburton County Council. The Council has a rigorous by-law governing the speed of automobiles crossing the Ashburton traffic bridge, and the enforcement of the by-law has resulted in the fining of a great many drivers of motor vehicles. The automobilists feel,that, they arc being subjected to an unjust persecution, their idea being'that the speed limit fixed by the Council is unreasonable. They are forbidden to travel over the bridge at a faster rate- • than six miles an hour, and owners of high-powered automobiles . complain that it is impossible to drive their machines at so slow a. rate. ; The grievance is a very righteous one, and it is strengthened by the fact that it has been taken up bjr the organisations ..■ • of motorists. These associations areas, anxious to prevent excessive speed-. ing as the miinieipal authorities #re,; and they woiild not protest against irksome restrictions without ,■ cause. ■ What form their next protest will take arid how. it is likely, to result #fe "cannot prof ess.to .say -here 1 .;•''■ ; b,ut .-it i kis interest-•;. ing, to consider the problem of the Ashburton traffio bridge.in the light; of an •incident which ■ rscbui-i'ed . some' little time ago in' England.-, GodaMiiiig^ a •pleasant run out of London, was-> a 1 very, popular resort of motoris'fe,.k.hose -:• expendituro in the provincial town was of great, bonefit to the tradespeople. Godalming passed a restriciiive by-law • a,nd 'onforccid it, with the result that ■motorists became incensed at what they^, -■ coiisic'lored to b6"> pei'sccritiori. '"; '-The- ■ .Antoinbbile Association and the- ! " Daily Moil' 1 began.a crusade againstGoda!iviir,ff''s tty-law-, urging motorists to avoid the town, and before long the ;Once popular resting-place was-, deserted. . Then the authorities of Godal- • rning realised Hhat their by-law : had been too drastic, and they made a new one. .Nowadays,;Godalmit3g'is again a motorists' paradise. Ashburton may have a somewhat similar experience if the traffic bridge continues to be / guarded as closely as it is'now.' The', town and the. bridge are on the route' from Tim.u-u to Christchurch, but not/ the only route. There is the road which runs through Mayfieldl and along the foot of the hills to the ' Rakaia , Gorge—a longer road,, but a.picturesque and pleasant Jone. This might be made the popular route if "motorists - decided to boycott the coast road, and . Ashbxu'top would not benefit by the change. Perhaps, if the possibilities in this connection are pointed out to the 'Vsh'-Mrton Courity Cnuncil the restricfci\\.- !.)v-la.iv will be 1 altered.?)' :'? *■: > : \'-