UPPER HUTT TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1939, Page 17

UPPER HUTT TRAFFIC

LOCAL CONTROL

PROTEST OF RATEPAYERS

The Upper Hutt Borough Ratepayers' and Citizens' Association disapproves of the Upper Hutt Borough Council appointing its own traffic inspector instead of maintaining the existing arrangement whereby local traffic is Controlled by a Transport Department inspector. The council last night received a letter from the association emphatically protesting against the council's action. The Commissioner of Transport (Mr. G. L. Laurenson) wrote denning the Department's attitude in regard to juvenile cycling offendeis, and advising that the Department's inspector would be withdrawn at the end of this month. Two months ago the council passed a resolution viewing with alarm the desire of the traffic officer to prosecute juvenile cycling offenders without first giving them a warning, and asking that names should be taken •on the occasion of a first offence with the idea of enlisting the aid of the parents. The Ratepayers' and Citizens' Association objected strongly to this. Last

month, the council decided to terminate the arrangement with the Transport Department, and to appoint its own traffic inspector, j AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN. The association's letter to the council stated that the appointment of a council inspector would be ah additional burden on the ratepayers and an unnecessary expenditure of public money. The charges to the borough under departmental traffic control Were £40 annually and provided a service which, despite the criticism of some councillors, assured the district of a system of control by officers, who were thoroughly conversant with rules and regulations and equipped with efficient high-speed ears, Further, this service was not subject to the interruptions of ; sickness or accident that might obtain in the Case of a sole borough-employed officer. The cost to I the borough under the proposed new arrangement would be £§00 a year, plus the cost of purchase and maintenance of a Car. The association stated that it felt that a local appointee might have to exercise ■ discretion in prosecuting; otherwise, as had been ■ borne out by the council's actions towards the departmental traffic officer stationed in the district, he might incur cehsure. The letter concluded: "The association trusts that in future councillors will be guided more by plain common sense than by the oratorical powers of some councillors." DEPARTMENT'S ATTITUDE. :In acknowledging receipt Of the council's resolution to resume control of traffic in its area as from April 1, the Commissioner of Transport stated that he would like to make quite clear

the Department's., attitude.: regarding juvenile cycling offenders." Cycling offences were left to the discretion ot the officer stationed in the district, although instructions had been issued that prosecutions were not to be issued where warnings would meet the position equally well. At the same time, where deliberate offences were com* mitted he was of the opinion that & warning was not likely to, be effective* and in such cases prosecutions wera frequently undertaken.

The Commissioner said lie under* stood £hat a .y.outh was apprehended shortly after a request had been re* deived.from the council for a strictef enforcement of the regulations against cyclists, and the prosecution was th» first "to be-taken against; A juvenile ia the Upper Hutt Court ih respect of & cycling offence.- The 'Minister oi Transport had since received a iette* from the. Upper. Hutt Citizens' and Ratepayers' Association complimenting him on the stand taken in thi_ ease and protesting "a|aihst "the council's attic tude.

Regarding the council's! Wish to tak* over its own traffic control':the Cos* missioner stated that the Departments inspector would be withdrawn at th« end of the month. He concluded! "I presume that the council; intends t<J assume full ebntroi; and has' carefully considered the details vOf the: organisa* tion necessary to successfully cope with the traffic problem, particularly on thJse days" when race" iffeMinge are held at the Trentham arid Tauherenikau courses." •'■' X-y

Both letters were received. *.; The Mayor (Mr. P. Robertson), stated that whatever might be said,-the council was acting well withlp Its righti m\

taking the course it had.