TRAFFIC CONTROL.

Evening Star, Issue 20666, 13 December 1930, Page 22

TRAFFIC CONTROL.

, • TO, TUB EDITOR. Sir—‘f Poor innocents!” How delightfully -simple, and pathetically tragic, Cr. Mitchell has become in his lattachment to his “charges,.’ tho city ■ traffic inspectors. I admire Cr Mitchell’s staunchness. When tho Stuart street traffic ..lights were erected the chairman of the General Committee said ho would* stand or fall by. the lights; he has already-fallen. Again he adopts tho same attitude over the department to which ho devotes a. great deal of his time, and unless ho can satisfy l tho publics that tho traffic uepartmont .is doing its, work properly ho will probably suffox* another fall when 'ho goes to poll at the next elections. Sin this question implication is unparohable. Definite charges can be made. I agree that the inspectors aro in “ need of sympathy and advice,” for until they show that they are- competent of handling the bigger problems of control the charge of inefficiency remains. To use Chief Inspector M'Nicoll’s own words, there'is an “ incomprehensible mass or regulations,” If ho thinks they are incomprehensible,. and he is supposed to bo conversant with every by-law-and its operation, how can ho expect the motorist to know their every letter? Will Cr. Mitchell deny that his chief officer has failed, when asked in court on several occasions by tho magistrate, to explain the operations of some or the regulations? Mr M'Nicoll has also said that “invariably offences are committed almost entirely in ignorance, but there are some glaringly wilful breaches of the regulations.” I repeat the charge that the inspectors aro inefficient in preventing glaringly, wilful breaches. Dangerous driving, cutting corners, and bad obstructions aro to be seen on the streets daily at times when inspectors are in their offices. Only recently a deputation mot with the Gilbertian. spectacle of tho traffic inspectors toiling in their offices for -a,full day over a plan of parking for a fixture, a plan, it may bo mentioned, which a capable police.officer.drew up, by himself, on another occasion, without any bother. “ Traffic control and detection of offences ” has been mentioned by Mr M'Nicoll as increasing work of tho department, hut the figures reveal that the latter duty is becoming tho greater. Motorists would have no complaints if tho worst breaches were detected, hut the inspectors, as tho statistics prove, endeavour to justify their existence by detecting the easiest and most trivial offences, such as leaving cars not parallel with the curb, an offence m Moray place which in no way obstructs traffic orpauses inconvenience. Jaywalking, dangerous driving, and cutting corners escape tho notice of tho inspectors, who, however, proudly recall the fact that they have seldom failed in prosecutions for dangerous driving. Most of their time is spent in slinking round back roads to find ears parked wrongly or left over the time limit. Cr Mitchell is responsible; It is an open secret that. many tips to tho inspectors of motorists leaving their cars over tho time limits are given by Cr Mitchell. Perhaps the inspectors can bo excused for not devoting their time to. serious work so as to please their chairman by obtaining convictions for trifling breaches. Tho inspectors have neither the confidence nor respect of tho great majority of motorists, as they have not shown competence in handling the big problems, and the return to police control, although it will ho more costly to the taxpayers, will bo welcomed. Motorists admire tho tact and cfnci--ency of the police. They have . improved tho motoring traffic, and it is singular that during the many months ho has been on duty at the Stock Exchange, Constable Oswald has not oneb prosecuted.—l am, etc.. E. C. Powell. December 13. TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,-—I think Cr Mitchell should go to the trouble of finding out both sides of tho story before he rushes into print in favour of tho traffic inspectors. Everyone who knows other towfls in New Zealand says the autocratic ways of pur inspectors would not be tolerated in other cities. It is incorrect for Or Mitchell to say motorists are warned the first time. 1, for one, .was summoned for a most trivial first offence, and although I arrived at my car while tho inspector was there there was.no warning given. Ho simply said: “ You’ll bo summoned for this.”' Fortunately, tho magistrate had a little clearer vision, and dismissed the ease.

These inspectors, with so much hacking from Or 'Mitchell,, fail to realise that if it were not for the motorists they would probably bo in the ranks of the unemployed. It is up to them, if they don’t want trouble* to change their tactics and work with the motorists, and not as if the motorists should bo off the road. 1 am amazed at theMotor Club standing so much when it represents such a largo body of motorists. —I am, etc., Motorist’s Ticket. December 13.