ROADING REPORT DEBATED

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27047, 23 May 1953, Page 6

ROADING REPORT DEBATED

SOUTH ISLAND MOTOR UNION’S ATTITUDE

AGREEMENT “IN GENERAL

PRINCIPLE”

I “The South Island Motor Union agrees with and accepts in general principle the Roading Investigation Committee’s report, subject to discussions between representatives of this union and the Government in respect of certain fundamental principles which are not covered by the report.” This motion, passed by the union last evening, is similar to one passed the previous day by the North Island Motor Union, except that the North Island resolution ended: “subject to discussions between members of the sub-committees and the Government on certain matters of detail.” The South Island union was asked to associate itself with the resolution. Outlining the Automobile Association, Canterbury’s, objection to the report. Mr W. R. Carey said that users of the roads should pay for them, and that a greater check on speed and loading should be kept. He had seen the damage done to the DannevirkeNapier and the Picton-Canterbury highways and he was concerned at .the position of “one-quarter of the users doing three-quarters of the damage.” The motor unions represented the other three-quarters of the road users.

Mr Carey claimed that this principle could not be considered a “matter of detail” and for this reason he would be reluctant to pass the resolution. Mr Carey had asked that the meeting go into committee to hear what he had to say, but after some discus-, sion on the advisability of going into committee, no motion to this effect was put. After Mr Carey’s explanation had been discussed the chairman (Mr C. M. Rout) put a motion “that the meeting resume in open meeting.” Mr Ivon Wilson: We’ve never been in committee.

The chairman then declared the business done in committee confirmed.