TRAFFIC IN ADELAIDE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 10

TRAFFIC IN ADELAIDE

Mr J. L. Hay’s Impressions ‘‘All the main shops in Adelaide are in a street one chain wide—similar to Colombo street —and. the traffic congestion is impossible,” said Mr J. L. Hay, who returned to Christchurch from Australia during the week-end. ‘‘With our increasing population Colombo street will never be able to cope with all the traffic.” Some traffic on the main street was diverted, and as in Christchurch there was a move to widen the street, he said. One firm had already rebuilt sft back from the required street line. ‘‘Terrific industrial development is going on in Adelaide, and Christchurch could learn a lesson from what they are doing.” said Mr Hay. “They are seeking industries and offering every encouragement, such as low rental land.” Traffic problems in Melbourne had been solved by the vigour of a City Development Association, formed by city businessmen to maintain the heart of the city, said Mr Hay. They obtained a traffic expert from the United States to prepare a report on how city traffic problems could be solved, and the report had been adopted by the council. Melbourne now had off-street parking, parking meters, lights at every crossing, and a first-class public transport system to bring shoppers into the city. “Very Realistic Approach” “Their approach to the problem was very realistic, and now all the traffic is very well controlled,” he said. In Sydney there was a very acute parking problem, and there were many one-way streets, Mr Hay said. On the main streets no parking was allowed. Mr Hay said that more than 300,000 persons watch the giant Christmas pageant of John Martin, Adelaide. The procession was led by the Governor, arid was more than a mile long. All shops closed while it was in the city streets, and it had become such an institution in the life of the community that special trains were run. The pageant was the second largest of its kind’ in the world, J. R. Macy and Company, of New York, being first, and Hay’s Ltd., of Christchurch, third.