ON THE HUTT ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 54, 12 September 1928, Page 13

ON THE HUTT ROAD

30 M.P.H. TOO LOW NEW BYLAW COMING Several times during the past two or three years members of tho City and Suburban Highways Board, not to mention motorists, have moved so far, and no further, to have the present speed limits on the Hutt road, thirty miles an hour, and fifteen miles an hour through Kaiwarra, Ngahauranga, and Korokoro, increased to thirty-five and twenty miles an hour respectively. Today the board again decided to move for an increase in the speed limits. Tho City Solicitor advised that there was no legal objection to increasing the speed, which was purely a matter of policy. He suggested that if evidence was required the Police Department should be approached. Section 3 (18) of tho Highways Amendment Act of 1927, stated Mr. O'Shea, read: "The Wellington City Council may, with* the consent of the Board and of every local authority having control of any road or street affected by the proposed law, make bylaws providing for the regulation of the speed of traffic on any of the roads and streets constructed by it . . . and where such bylaws conflict with the bylaws of tho local authority controlling such road or street, the bylaws made under this sub-sec-tion shall prevail." The Mayor, Mr, G. A. Trpup, said that the question had been referred to the police during the term of office of Mr. Norwood, and they would not agreo. If it was referred to them again they would probably again not agree to the proposal. Mr. D. K. Hoggard said that, thero was no need to refer the matter to the police; it was purely tho board's responsibility. Actually the board had passed a resolution in favour of increasing the speeds, but the City Council had referred it to tho police, and when they had objected had taken no action. Councillor H. D. Bennett said that the bylaw was held up because the board was preparing a Bill to go before the House to give power to fix speeds on all roads under the control of the board, subject to the consent of tho local bodies. Petone had not given consent, and so had "sprogged tho wheels." :. The Mayor: "All that we 'propose is a bylaw for the. road from Thorndon to Petone, 35 miles and. 20 through the townships." Councillor Bennett: "And it would be 20 through Petone, too, if they would agree." Tho board decided that a bylaw should bo framed as suggested, Mr. D. M'Kenzic, Mayor of Petone, ilone voting against the motion. The meeting also decided to make a special request to. the Petone Council to agree to an increase iv tho speed from 15 to 20 miles an hour through the borough.

Green and Hahn, photo.