Motor Traffic.

Bruce Herald, Volume L, Issue 57, 27 July 1914, Page 5

Motor Traffic.

J.DUAL BODIES' CONFERENCE.

At the instigation of the Bruce County Council a coufe.ieiice of neigh boring local bodies wis held in ctio Early Settlers' Hail on Thursday to discuss the question of motor traliic. Eight county councils, a similar number of borough councils, and one road board w§re represented. Mr D Boyd (ch>urmun of the Biuce County Council) presided. Toe Chairman said ho thought it would bo wise to break the matter up into two issues—namely, as to whether the meeting of delegates deemed it desirable that some form of taxation should be placed on motors, uua if so what form it should take. All the local bodies wanted was s mio adequate return for The amount 01 damage that existed from the u.se ol motors. Mr Ereeuian said he thought ic only proper thai motors should be taxed, and moved that the meeting affirm the proposal that some form of taxation snould be imposed on motors. Mr Reeve (Mayor of Green Island) seconded the motion, which was carried without discussion.

Tiie Chairman said he hud previously advocated a lax on tyres, and sirieo then he had seen no reason to alter ijis opinion. Tt e brovemment were ac preseut engaged putting a Bill through dealing with the matter, hut he thought that they would have, been well advised if tlmy had taken the lead, or asked for a lead, from the local bodies, who were in , olose touch with the mutter. He thought thut it the present Bill went through it would bp to the detriment of the whole Dominion and would operate veiy unfairly, lie thought ma it there were was a du y imposed on tyres and the money expended on the nuuu roans of the Dominion it would fairly deal with tho question. Whoever used tyres also used the roatis. Mr Edwards (Clutha) said lie was of the same opinion as tho chairman. A tyre tax would be the best way. A power tax would be very unfair tax. l'liey should protest strongly agaiLSt a power iax. no moved that, the oiecting considered a tax on tyres the hest method or taxation.

Mr Cameron seconded the motion, Mr freeman said that if tlie present Hill went tluougli there would be a most inequitable tax. He maintained that those wiio used eyres used the roads. liio Government should nave taken a lead irom local bodies" whi) hud more go do witit it. Hid matter of appoitioning tno tax would L>e a fairly ditficult mat Dor. A delegate asked whether tins inciuueu a tax on uioior cycles, and received a reply in the atlinnative. Air iieovo &aid tiie present Government ijiil was on tiie right lines. I'ur w lilacliie f-aid tliat if tlie Government did not fix a speed li.uit, power shoud De given to the local bodies to do so. 'Llie way to prevent damage being none to tlie roads was a speed limit. A limit of .0 miles an Hour was suliicient for any person. .Tlie buili ol tlie cars in Utago were lie id in Diuiedin, where tlie council could lix a speed limit, iiie local bouies could not, and lie maintained that the money ooiltoctd iroui tyres should Le spent on loads outside tin* main cities. Tne motion was carried. Tiie question of apportionment was tlien discussed.

Air Fitzputriek said that if the Government tutlc over the maintenance uf tuo main roails right througn, and cook the tax, that would get over die difficulty. Air Keevo moved that the roads should be divided into different classes roads—first, seconu, and tJurd. ill ere was no seconder to this motion. Mr Jb'itzpatrick moved that the meeting ainrm the principle oi expenditure of the money on the main rotuis outside the cities. ine ohaijman said that if tlie meet* ing allirmed tue principle they would nave arrived at something delinito. and tlie rest would follow. Mr freeman said that the matter of apportionment migiit bo well left to bhe Government, it was their business to see it was properly and equitaby apportioned, and if tnat was not dono there would soon be - a protest. Mr lnckson i.s ved wlio was to declare wnat as u main ioa(s

ilie motion was Anally amended to cover "roads used lor motor tialiic within a certain radius," and in this form it was earned. ilie question ui licensing drivers was then discussed, ana it was agmeu to support tlie uiu in this respect, Mr Keeve moved that "tile ownei of u car stiould be made jointly responsiule witn the driver lor accidents " 'Mr Elackie seconded the motion, which was curueU, Mr iJiacme tuen moved-"That it be strongly recommended to the bo\ - eminent to include in any Motor ism

a clause fixing a definite spued liinu for motors, or empower local bcdins to lis the same; muxtmum speed, zo miles an hour." Mr i<'itzpatrick seconded this motion, wlnen was carried. Finally, oifthe motion of Mr King, it was agreed co recommend Jmut every borough should be a registering authority. j.g was decided that the Bruce Council should forv\aid the resoiutions_to the Government—Evening fi fc}tar. (J