PARKING BYLAW

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 110, 12 May 1939, Page 8

PARKING BYLAW

PROPOSED CHANGE

MOTORISTS PROTEST

NO ACTION YET

Strong exception to the proposed 30-minute parking bylaw was expressed by a deputation of motorists which waited on the bylaws committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon. Points more or less agreed upon were that there should be some distinguishing mark between commercial vehicles and others, so that traffic officers could give the former preference; that if cars were put off the streets there was nowhere they could go failing the provision of garages by private enterprise; and that the space r 30 minutes was not sufficient to allow persons parking within reach of shops or offices to transact their business. The matter of loading zones was less definitely agreed on. No action is to be taken by the City Council in the meantime. There were three speakers, Mr. E. A. Batt, chairman of the executive of the Automobile Association, Wellington, Mr. R. H. Nimmo, vice-president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. H. O. Pittendrigh, representing the drapers, clothiers, and footwear retailers of Wellington. Mr. Batt said it was most difficult for the City Council to segregate the motorist from the community, when there was a motor-car to every five people. The existing bylaw, with its one-hour limit, had never been enforced; it was of no use to bring in a new one until the old one had been proved inadequate. . Moreover, the old bylaw operated over a smaller area than the new one, which took in the whole of the business area of the city, which was unreasonable and unfair. If Wellington could not enforce one-, hour parking, how was it going to enforce 30-minute parking? ULTERIOR MOTIVE SUGGESTED. ' "We are inclined to think that the bylaw has an ulterior motive, and that is to keep tra Pic out of the city altogether—to eliminate the car altogether," said Mr. Batt. The chairman of the committee (Councillor M. F. Luckie): Not at all. I can assure you that that is not correct. We fully appreciate our duties to every section of the community. Mr. Batt said that people would be anxious about bringing their cars into the city. What could they do in 30 minutes? They could scarcely buy a. pair of socks let alone discuss a legal document or transact any serious business The reduced time limit also gave the City Council additional opportunities for prosecutions. Traffic was so constant that when one car pulled out another pulled in, and they would be no nearer solving the problem of the stationary traffic. Mr Batt combated the proposal to prohibit absolutely the stopping-of a vehicle in certain business streets between 4.30 pjn. and 6 p.m., as on the one hand it would deprive the driver of right of access, even momentarily, to business premises, and on the other it must deprive the. business man ol trade He maintained that by curtailing the number of trams running in Willis Street at certain hours motor congestion would be eased. In regard to the proposed loading zones, he,contended that the Corporation had no power to do as it suggested. The City Solicitor (Mr. J. O'Shea) said that the law was that cars, could put down people or goods or pick up people or goods, but that they were Sot entitled to stand in the city anyWMr. e'Luckie: Anything which blocks the street for any time, in law, is a nuisance. That is well known Mr Batt remarked that it was strange that loading zones were down before the bylaw was finally passed. HOMELESS CARS? "If a man cannot park on the streets where can he park?" asked Mr? Batt "Off the streets of Wellington there is provision^for exactly 375 cars (out of 10,000). The °f *hat narkins space is in one area in J-ara nS Street that takes 250 of the 375. If ?ou put us off the streets, where are WfeSde: Is .that not a matter which the Automobile Association should take into consideration? Mr. Batt: No, it is a matter for private enterprise. We have not the n^&tt^tW i ßoi^ h *gS be done to raise difficulties at the time of the Exhibition. ' . +„ Asked by Councillor M. Fraser to withdraw It amplify the ag^taton of ulterior motive on the part of the committee, Mr. Batt said that there was no imputation at all. All the state ment meant was that by reason, of the 30-minute parking limit it. would be impossible for anyone to bring his car into Wellington for Pr actlcaJ.^ a e A_ f _ p There would be grave dissatisfaction on the part of the commercial community if the proposed bylaw were enforced, said Mr. Nimmo The 30-minute limit would unduly restrict the use of business vehicles. First consideration should be given to facilities for business transport. There was no means of distinguishing between the business and private motor-car, and the time was overdue when some means of identification should be introduced to enable traffic officers to give the commercial vehicle the advantage to which it was entitled. DETRIMENTAL TO BUSINESS.

Mr. Pittendrigh said that retailers were convinced of the detrimental nature of the bylaw. It would apply most inimically in districts where lana values, rentals, and rating were highest. , _~ , _, Mr Luckie agreed that there should be a distinction between commercial and other vehicles, and assured^ the deputation that no action would be taken until the matters raised had been further considered.