BOROUGH BY-LAWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 April 1924, Page 3

BOROUGH BY-LAWS

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS In bringing the by-laws of the Greymouth Borough up to date, the special Committee of the Borough Council set up for the purpose has made some important amendments, and additions particularly in relation to dwelling site frontages, traffic regulations and itinerant traders, in the proposed building by-laws relating to the erection of dwellings it is provided that dwellings erected on land south of the North Town Belt must have a frontage of at least 50 feet wide, while for dwellings erected north of the Town Belt a frontage of 40 feet is

required.' A dwelling house may not be erected on land containing an area of less than 20 perches, provided that where the land has a frontage to more than one street the area may not be less than 16 perches. The clause shall not however, operate when the Council considers that a full compliance with the provisions would create a great hardship and the Council may in such a case dispense with the obligation of full compliance and impose any other conditions for preventing the overcrowding of such land with buildings, security to be fixed if deemed advisable. All cabs, motor cars, omnibuses, vans and motor vans must be licensed and persons owning or driving unlicensed vehicles are liable under the by-law. Owners and drivers of any cab, motor car, omnibus, van or motor van, must be licensed. Such licenses will not be granted to any person under 18 years of age, or who has not resided within a radius of five miles from the Chief Post Office within the Borough a \ month prior to the date of his application for such license. No person under the age of 16 years shall drive any private car, oi’ ride or drive any motor cycle, nor shall any such person drive any vehicle used for trade or business purposes. Licenses to drive are not to be granted to persons who have not in their possession a certificate of competency signed by the Traffic Inspector, an officer who will be added to the Council’s staff who will have the right to inspect all cars

and be entrusted with the regulation of all traffic. Fees for licenses range from 5/- to £2 per annum. Carriers’ vehicles may be hired either by time or distance, in both of which cases a special scale of fees is set out, but the removal of furniture must be always carried out on the time scale. Badges are to be worn by all holders of licenses and these badges must be produced upon the demand of any passenger, hirer, traffic inspector or police constable. Restrictions are likewise imposed on owners and drivers of private cars and vehicles. A driver must satisfy the Traffic Inspector of his ability to efficiently handle the vehicle and obtain a certificate to that effect. Thh vehicle must havp independent brakes and be capable of -moving backwards and forwards and be in good order and condition generally. “Keep to the left” is the 'rule of the road and bell or horn must be sounded at any point of intersection of streets, also when crossing any intersection. Pillion-riding on motor cycles is prohibited, as are the lighting at night of strong headlights not equipped . with efficient anti-glaring devices. The pedestrian, too, is required to adhere to the “rule of the footpath” which, as in

the case of the rule of the road, is “keep to the left.” For his benefit mainly,' certain special signals have to be observed by drivers of motor vehicles or motor cycles. Drivers must- when turning a corner extend the arm nearest to that corner and point towards it. When preparing to • stop, he must hold up the right arm horizontally to the right, but with a backward patting motion of the hand from the wrist. The speed limits arc as follows: — Eight miles per hour around any corner, over or across any railway

or other crossing, over, along or across any bridge, within fifty yards on either side of any public or private school, over or across the intersection of Tainui and Mackay Streets, or over and along Grogan Lane; fif-' teen miles an hour in all the central streets and 20 miles an houi' in all other parts of the borough. In respect of heavy traffic special annual license fees are payable ranging from £1 for smaller to £5 for 5-ton vehicles with the addition of £1 10s for each ton or part of a ton over 5 tons. The maximum fee payable in respect of any vehicle shall not exceed £lO. Itinerant traders, defined as meaning and including any person not having been a resident of Greymouth for the six months previous to starting business (not being a hawker and pedlar) and any corporation not having its registered offices at Greymouth, who or which occupies any house, tent, stall, marquee, van, erection, structure or place within the Borough for the purpose of selling, or offering for sale, by retail, any

goods or skill in handicraft have devoted to them Part V. of the amended by-laws. In this it is provided that no person shall act as an itinerant trader in the Borough of Greymouth unless such person is the holder of a license,, issued by the Town Clerk at a fee of £5 and holding good for one year from date of issue. The fee shall be refunded if the licensee remain continuously in business in the borough for six months from the date of the issue of the license. Licenses are not transferable. The amended by-laws, which have been approved, will come up for confirmation at the next meeting of the Council.