TRAFFIC CONTROL SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 10

TRAFFIC CONTROL SCHEME

BICCABTON BOROUGH'S ATTITUDE MR H. S. S. KYLE MAKES A STATEMENT CRITICISM OF MINISTER AND "THE PKESS" Inc?l hnr)->- rn tho rronn??l for n Of t*i3 ?T-r,i-trr frr TT!m--t ftl^T T R. of th-> trr.T" r~"*r~i c* th • C.'' l -» ?rd pli"d critici'-in of "Th? Pre""!" r.ri mntaned in n st"t~mer+ Meyer rf KVcsrtnn H. S S. Kvlc MP,) st p m"et>>T of the Borough Counc'i eve-ing. Mr Kyle reiterated the council's reasons for refusing to join in the proposed new traffic area—that it would involve Increased cost without increas~d efficiency, and that thrre was no indication of the source of necessary additional revenue. After slight modification—including the deletion of references to Mr Semple's description of the council's methods as "parish pump," which were not considered dignified—the state- j merit was permitted by the council to pass for publication. No vote was taken. Mr Kyle suggested that the state- ( ment (here summarised) should appear in full in the newspapers; in the statement itself he referred to opposition to the traffic scheme which was "not reported" after the conference called by Mr Semple on June 8. V I thought the only thing was to have a comprehensive statement made, so that they should not get pieces and parcels ©f it," he said. "Seeing that the question of unified traffic control in the metropolitan area, and the attitude of the Riccarton Borough Council, has been again brought forward by repeated editorials in *The Prccs,' and the last outburst from the Minister for Transport appearing in 'The Press" of September 7, I can quite understand tin attitude of the Minister (knowing him as I do)," reads the final paragraph of the statement. "Many other questions are 'one-eyed' to him, and I want to inform him that the Riccarton Borough Council is out to protect the interests of its ratepayers and the lives of its citizens—perhaps more so than the Minister, for I have known of no instance of any of the Riccartcn councillors travelling through populated areas (such as Upper Biccarton in the Wajmajri County) at 55 miles an hour. Has the Minister any recollection? "Perhaps it is not out of place to remind The Press' that amalgamation of the city newspapers did not bring ■with it cheaper newspapers to the general public." "Not Reported" Commenting on the first conference of the Minister with local bodies, on June 8, Mr Kyle states: "Opposition to the Minister's proposals was expressed at this meeting, but not reported in the newspapers. The Minister dealt in generalities and gave nothing specific. His statem c nts can be summarised as follows:—This slaughter of human beings must stop, no matter what the cost. It was not a matter of £ s. d., but of human life.' As a result of -this meeting and with no indication of the majority's approval of the sch.me, a motion was passed to the effect that the City Council prepare a ccheme for consideration by the local bodies at a later date. "On June 24 a further meeting of representatives of all local authorities met the Minister. The Chief Traffic Inspector's report setting out the City Council's proposals, though dated June 18, was not received by the outside local authorities till 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22. This gave the town and county clerks no opportunity of acquainting councillors with the proEcsals, . . . Tht. Town Clerk of the orougn stated that it was 'suggested in the early stages of the meeting that a vote be taken on the report, and he rightfully informed the Minister that he was not empowered to vote, that insufficient time had elapsed between the receipt o° the report and the date of the meeting for due consideration, and that his council would consid r the matter later. .. . The Minister stated plainly that he would legislate any obstructive local body into the scheme. Cpwjnlssioner leterylewed "When Mr J3ruorton's report was considered by my council it was found to contain no guarantee of any improved efficiency in the control at

traffic. It carried no guarantee that one life would be saved or one accident prevented. It showed an added coot to the City Council of £2572 per annum, against an added revenue of £IOOO, leaving a deficiency of £1572. To meet this deficiency, it was recommended in the City Council report that the Government Increase to between 50 and 60 per cent, the proposed allocation of 40 per cent, of driving licence fees to cities and boroughs with a population of more than 6000. "To test the possibilities; of this recommendation being acceptable to the Government," continued Mr Kyle, T interviewed the . Commissioner of Transport in Wellington, and received his assurance that the proposal would be negatived. Therefore, at present we have some of the local bodies surrounding and including Cbristchurch, proposing to go on with the scheme with the vital factor Pf cost still unsettled. The alternatives open to the City Council are:— "(1) To provide traffic control costing £1572 less than Mr Bruorton maintains is nececsary for efficiency. "(2) To meet the defici ncy by a rate struck over the outside areas. "It w 11 be found that under the first alternative the outside areas will suffer, the limited control available being concentrated,in the city. Under the second, in my ooinion rating today has reached a rtage of necessary 'imitation. I base that opinion on the fact that the Riccarton Borough Council's ba'ance-sheei shows £4608 outstanding rates at March 31, 1937. Other local bodies are in a similar plight. I am loath to suggest any measure which will increase these rates and enlarge that section of the community which cannot meet its rate payments." Questions to be Asked The borough council had not flatly refused to join in the scheme after considering the Chief Traffic Inspector's report. It had asked for information from the City Council, and learnt that the cost of the scheme would be borne by the City Council with Government assistance only; and that control would be by the City Council's own traffic committee, which would give full consideration to representations of an advisory committee of representatives of the outside areas. "I wish to state that when the proposed bill is being considered by the House, I propose to request information about:

"(1) The source of revenue to defray the additional cost, whether ratepayer, taxpayer, or motorist. "(2) Representation of outlying areas on joint traffic committees, whether fidvisory, or given lawful powers possible under sections 48, 51, and 53 of the Municipal Corporations Act, which enable city councils legally to add representatives to committees and grant them the right to vote, thus freeing the outside areas to some extent from the absolute domination of the City Council. "(3> Whether an earnest attempt will be made by the trafic authorities to educate, help, and inst-uct mo o. ists, in an endeavour to prevent offences in lieu of prosecution after the offence. The Minister has expressed a wish that this method be general. "Instead, to-day we find two inspectors in an expensive car on patrol, with prosecution the objective, not education. Those same two inspectors, employed educating the motorists, would do, six times the good at half the expense. This brings me to the conclusion that there is something in the efficiency of the borough council's methods this council having refrained from prosecution o£ motorists lor a number at years.'*