HEAVY TRAFFIC BYLAWS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 152, 24 March 1925, Page 8

HEAVY TRAFFIC BYLAWS

PETONE CONFIRMS THEM ON MAYOR’S CASTING VOTE The heavy traffic by-laws, which will come into force on April 1, were confirmed at a special meeting of the Petone Borough Council ’ last night, on the casting vote of the Mayor. (Mr. J.' W. McEwan), the voting being: Ayes, 3; Noes, 3. There were present: The Mayor and Councillors H. G. Cook, W. Hay, H. Jay, V. Jacobsen, and C. B. Brocklebank. Councillors A. G. Steffanson, R. H. Jones, and W. P. Coles were absent. Replying to a question from Councillor jay, the Mayor said that if the council did not confirm the by-laws, Petone Borough would be out of the pool. Councillor Jay: It seems to me we have to confirm something we know nothing about.

Councillor Jacotseu: The regulations fix the pool. The Mayor: No, they do not. Councillor Jacobsen: Excuse me, yes, they do, and the position has altered since last we discussed it. There was no suggestion at any time that the council would join in a pool for horsedrawn vehicles. We have never discussed it. The Mayor: You’re wrong.

It was raised as an objection by Councillor Jay that to participate in the motor pool the council would have to accept the horse vehicles portion of tile by-laws. He did not want that. The council had agreed to it previously under protest because it was a part of the larger thing. The horse vehicle tax, he contended, as too heavy. He believed they could even now protest against the horse vehicles tax and yet remain in the pool. The Mavor: It is essential the bylaw should be confirmed whatever alterations are made later. If a member votes against it he must accent the responsibility in the event of its rejection. Councillor Jay: I don’t know that we do approve of it’as members. We have all been against it at times. The Mayor; Well, I don’t know what you understand by voting. Attention was called by Councillor Hay to the fact that if the council kept out they would have to raise., heavy traffic fees within the borough as well as continue the contribution to the Hutt Road Board. The Mayor: If we keep out we will still be a" part of the district covered bv the regulations. In that event we will lose such share of the fees as would have come to us (had we remained in) by among the local bodies. If we remain out, then heavy motor-lorries owned in" the borough will, when they cross the boundary, have to nay the heavy traffic license fees according to. the by-law of the heavy traffic district. On tbe other hand, the Petone Council could not impose a tax on heavy motor lorries that come into the Petone borough.

Councillor Brocklebank moved that the by-laws be confirmed, and in doing so remarked that there were many things in the by-law to object to, bin. that if each and every local body pulled out because of certain objections, the whole thing would fall to the ground. There was still time for. people to voice their grievances if they considered an injustice was being done them. Councillor Hay seconded the motion. The least thev could do, he said, was to abide by the decision of the conference of local bodies, at which tbe Mayor was the council’s representative. The position of motor owners would be worse if Petone stood out.

Councillor Brocklebank: Quite rightly so, as we would have to levy fees ourselves. Councillor Jacobsen: We have a right to protest against the too high fees. We all think them too high. We have been bluffed into acepting it. The Mayor: Ob, no, no. Councillor Jacobsen: Yes! It has been held over our heads that if we don’t agree we will be out of the pool.

Councillor Cook did not think the bylaw quite right on the question ot* horse-drawn vehicles. The Minister of Public Works, he said, himself stated he. had no idea of what that tax was going to be. The horse vehicle tax, he said, had nothing whatever to do with the motor vehicles tax. He did not see why the council should be bludgeoned into accepting it. The Minister had denied responsibility for its inclusion in the by-law. He did not see why, if the council threw out that part of the by-law, Petone should be outside the pool. The Mayor assured the council it was to the advantage of Petone residents for them to be in the pool. The Petone Council among the local bodies 'was. in a minority, and like all minorities they must accept the position. They were one against six or seven. What chance, then, had they' of getting what they would get under the pool, notwithstanding all the hardships which time would mitigate? Councillor Brocklebank: It: seems as though this by-law will be confirmed on the casting vote of the Mavor. It will be. a great pity and will create a bad impression. Let us see if we cannot nut the matter through by' u clear majority. Councillor Cook: What! Vote against our consciences! On a show of hands being called for the voting was even, the 'Mavor and Councillors W. Hay and C. B. ’Brocklebank being in favour of confirming the bv-law, and Councillors FT. G. Cook, H. Jay, and V. Jacobsen against it. The Mayor said, under the circumstances, he had no hesitation in giving his casting vote for confirmation.