MOTOR PARKING PLACES.

Evening Star, Issue 20486, 17 May 1930, Page 12

MOTOR PARKING PLACES.

to ram editor Sir,— Regarding the controversy between the Dunedin- City Council and the Otago Motor Club over the Moray place south-east parking area. I ask your permission -to briefly state the ease of my club. In the first place, the City Council, of its own accord, considered the locality under discussion as a suitable place, and allotted it as a parking area, and it was’ so used for a considerable time. when it' was abolished my club was approached by motorists who had been Accustomed to use tho area, witli a request that we should interview the City Council to ascertain -why, it was abolished, and to endeavour to get the matter reconsidered. On inquiry I .was informed some_ individuals using the area at night time had behaved ill a manner which disturbed the peace of the neighbourhood. Do you think that is a good reason for condemning it as unsuitable both lor day and night? Such a Thing might occur on any parking area, and is merely a matter for proper control. The only other objector that 1 have heard of was the.manager of a business on the opposite side of tho street, who objected because the entrance to his premises was blocked, not by cars on the parking area, hut by cars standing 'on his side of the street Do yon think that is a good reason for abolishing it? Or is it, again, a matter ior proper control Two different parties therefore objected, and Mr Ansell M.P., presented a petition from over iOO motorists and ratepayers in the neighbourhood asking that it be reinstated . I agree with you as to the functions of d«r City Council, and that -is function is not only to provide a thoroughfare, but to see 'that such a thoroughfare is used in a reasonable and safe manner. From a traffic point of view, which after all is of the groat est imnortance. the nnsit-on is almost , ideal for the purpose of a parking area. Business houses are on one sidof the street only, and this; naturaljv means less intereference with traffic than :h any other parking area in the centre of the city. In conclusion, I wish to state that there is no fend between the Otago -Motor Club and the City Council. My 1 club, however, desires to bring forcibly before the council the views of a very large majority of motorists and ratepayers, in order, to counteract tiie influence of a very small but very persistent minority. Wc fully appreciate ' the difficulties facing the civic author-

ity in providing'parking facilities, but are convinced that by their action in this particular case they arc aggravating an admittedly difficult problem by prohibiting parking in an area that is obviously suitable for tho purpose.—l am, etc., J. L. Passmoiik. President. May 17. __