ZONAL PARKING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 8

ZONAL PARKING

AS PROPOSED BY CITY

MOTORISTS OPPOSED

"YEARS AHEAD OF TIME"

The half-hour parking zonal scheme of the City Council met with many objections and strong opposition by the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club last night, and a resolution disapproving of it was passed. The chairman stressed the point that the attitude of the Automobile Club seemed to have been misunderstood. ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WORSE. The chairman, Mr. E. A. Batt, referred to misconceptions caused by letters and articles in the Press in regard to the action which the Automobile Club had taken up. The club was asked to send representatives to meet the city authorities to discuss the proposed zonal system. That was some months ago,, before the public were aware of what was proposed. The city authorities produced their plans showing a half-hour, parking zone which extended from Webb street in the south to Davis street in the north. When that plan was placed before Mr. Shortt and himself they were astounded and staggered to find that half-hour parking only was to exist over that wide area. . , REDUCTION GAINED. _ We immediately said that we considered the scheme unworkable, and predicted that it would not get through «the City Council; that it would cause considerable opposition by people generally, and would have a detrimental effect on business, and would be a serious thing for the whole city. After discussion we. were instrumental in getting the half-hour parking zone reduced, to'be bounded by Vivian street in the south and Waring Taylor street in the north. The success of such a scheme in Christchureh and Auckland was mentioned by the chairman of the Bylaws Committee, but he agreed that there was a great difference in flat Christchureh and Wellington—with its bottle-neck in the north, and widened access in the south, and the city between—the conformation of the traffic lanes was not the same. .-■"■'. r NEVER IN FAVOUR. Some member of the City Council had stated on Ist February that the council officers had had several discussions with the executive's representatives and the Master Carriers' Association, but there had been only one discussion, the one he had referred to, at which a'vigorous protest at the scheme had been voiced. The executive had never stated that it and the Master Carriers' Association (with which it had not acted in this matter) considered that the time had come when hour parking should be^discontinued in the city. What the executive had pointed out was that the streets were taken up by all-day parking by motorists who were not residents of the city, who should be accommodated in an outer area. From some of the articles published club members would think that the executives were parties to the City Council's scheme. This was quite wrong. STIRRING UP TROUBLE? Mr. Batt, described as "an unprecedented action by a city councillor V a statement made by Councillor Forsyth who, at the council meeting of 25th February, said that it had been stated that the motorists and motor trade ccntrolled the city, and that they certainly controlled the streets. Councillor Forsyth had said that he felt sure that no protest would be received from the general public which he represented as against the motorists. Mr. Wilson: "He did not mean it." The Chairman: "I-hope he did not mean it, because no councillor has the right to sit in that council representing one section of the community as opposed to another. That is a dangerous attitude.'' Mr. H. W. Short endorsed what the chairman had said regarding the zoning system, and said that the delegation had urged the retention of parking.areas at Taranaki street, the old power house, Mercer street, Harris street, and other places without result. EMPTY STREETS. Wellington streets were empty enough now, commented Mr. Batt. What would they be like if the council's plan were put in force? Mr. A. L. Warburton: "It would have a serious effect on business." Mr. E. Palliser: "We are coupled with the scheme in the Press to-night." Mr. Batt: "That was caused by the first statements made." Mr. Warburton said that the scheme was before its time. During the depression it was impossible to establish motor parking in city buildings of seven or ten stories, such as existed in the larger cities. WOMEN'S POSITION. Mr. I. V. Wilson said that it was often impossible at present for a visiting lady, motorist to secure a parking place except up on The Terrace, or in some far-away street. Mr. Palliser: "There are hundreds of people in her position." Mr. Wilson: "People park their cars there all day long." The Chairman: "You speak as if every car stood there all day long. The percentage is small." Mr, Palliser: "Yes, the traffic department can prove that. I never have any difficulty, and I am using a car all day long. The City Council is carrying the whole thing too far. It is harassing to a degree." TOO DRASTIC. The Chairman: "It is the most drastic move since the first car came on the road. The motorist has the same rights as any other ratepayer.'' A resolution that the executive did not approve of the City Council '$ zoning plan was moved by Mr. Palliser, seconded by Mr. Warburton, and carried unanimously.