HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 238, 8 October 1935, Page 15

HEAVY TRAFFIC.

MAMAKU HILL ROAD. GOODS LICENSE GRANTED. an important decision. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ROTORUAy this day. A number of applications for goods scrviec licenses between Auckland and Rotorua will be affected by a reserved decision which the No. 4 Transport Licensing Authority issued yesterday. In the decision the authority disagreed with the Transport Co-ordinatiou Board in its opinion that the Maniaku Hill Road was not suitable for continuous use by heavy goods vehicles. The particular case with which the authority was dealing was an application for the renewal of if goods service license between Rotorua and Matamata by W. R. Beaumont, of Rotorua, but after granting the application the authority discussed at some length the general position with regard to this route.

The main objection to the issue of goods service licenses over the route has come from the Matamata County Council, and the decision of the Transport Co-ordination Board in recent applications has been in accordance with these representations. The No. i Authority, however, after obtaining figures in regard to the upkeep of the road from the various bodies concerned, expresses the opinion that the present classification of the road by the Main Highways Board indicates its fitness to carry heavy traffic and points out that if the road is not suitable for heavy traffic the board has its remedy by altering its classification. "Provided that the weight restrictions imposed by the roacl classifications are observed we see no difference between the use of the road by goods service vehicles and any other class of motor vehicle, nor do we see why a licensed goods operator should be debarred from using the road while all others may enjoy its use, assuming that the other conditions required to he taken into account upon the issue of a license under the Transport Act are fulfilled." the chairman of the authority, Mr. R. F. Gambrill, observes in concluding the finding. A number of other applications pending or before various authorities will be affected by the decision.