SPECIAL PARKING AREAS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 65, 11 December 1943, Page 6

SPECIAL PARKING AREAS

Motorists’ Opposition INCIDENTS IN BRANDON STREET

Unwarranted! possessiveness of special parking places by those to whom they had been allotted was claimed by a deputation from th& Automobile Association (Wellington) which was received by the by-laws committee of the Wellington City Council yesterday. Areas newly set aside in Brandon Street, for the Provost Corps and other organizations were particularly criticized, and the incidents quoted included the deliberate imprisoning of a car by those who thought their rights had been infringed, and the placing on a car of a ticket warning its driver to keep off part of the street, witlii a note on what was alleged to be the legal position. The > deputation said the council had no legal right to set, aside such areas, and asked that the practice be discontinued. Mr. E. A. Batt, chairman of the executive of the association, said the association regarded the position as serious. It had caused concern for some years, he said, recalling that motorists had had to resist the establishment of “loading zones,’’Avhieh had since disappeared. Now about ov feet of Brandon Street had been marked off on both sides for special use. The association had been advised legally that the council had no power to mark off the surface of the street for the vehicles of individuals, groups of individuals, or concerns, except for publie services, such as buses or taxis. The association felt that it had strong legal, moral and practical grounds for wanting the practice stopped. Mr. T. L. Buxton, who accompanied the deputation, would tell of incidents that would show how far people would go when they imagined they owned part of the street. Mr. Batt handed to the chairman of the committee, Cr. M. M. F. Luckie, a typed paper that had been left on a car a few days previously. It read, “Kindly keep clear. No-parking area. Damage by military vehicles off or on loading voids any insurance claim when on no-parking area.” The piece o.f paper bore a sticker reading, “Compliments of the American Red Cross.” lie read a letter from the secretary of Brandon Chambers, Ltd., protesting at an Army park being established in front of the building because it hindered the loading and unloading of tenants' goods. He did not wish to threaten, but the thing had gone far enough, and the association was ready to test it in Court. “Brandon Street Front.” Mr. Buxton said he had an office in the building of Chapman, Tripp, Watson, James and Co., and because of the state of his health he had a petrol licence to enable him to drive to the 'flice, but the street in front of the building had been marked off for the use of the Army. People deemed it decent to keep off that space if any other was available, but on several occasions he had been compelled to park on it. On each occasion the Army had not played cricket. On Wednesday night when there wore only three cars in all Brandon Street they had parked within six inches of his car. back and front. “When I approached them courteously they read me a lecture on their rights in Brandon Street, and the necessity for conducting the war on the Brandon Street, front, and finally said they would release my car only when I had given them my name.” he said. It was unreasonable and indecent treatment in the name of the war. He sought the help of the city authorities tnd after half nn hour was able to get away. Since then he had noticed that the men of the same unit were too tired to park their vehicles in the vacant spaces in the street when their own parking place was filled and double parked alongside it. Mr. A. .1. Curtis said carriers realized that the giving away of street space to people had a tendency to hinder deliveries.

Answerins the chairman, the city engineer, Air. K. E. Luke, said about 40 parkins places had been reserved throughout the city, totalling about half a mile. Many requests for them had.been refused. The chief traffic inspector informed him that before the spaces in Biandon Street were marked off those for whom it was done had assured him that other people using the buildings would be considered. Whatever the council decided to do generally, this area should be abolished. He suggested that if the. Army were to have premises about the city they should have a central parking area from which they could call their vehicles wb.cn they were U'antcd. Cr. Luckie said the committee was obliged to the deputation for bringing the fagts before it and the moderation it had displayed. It seemed that the. Army authorities had abused the concession allowed them.