INCREASES WANTED

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11323, 29 September 1930, Page 6

INCREASES WANTED

LORRY LOADS AND SPEEDS

AIASTER CARRIERS’ REQUEST

According to the decision of a.meeting ou Saturday,' local" earners consider that tlie maxima for lorry loads and speeds should be increased, tlie suggested amendc-d limits being seven tons and 25 miles per hour. The meeting was-convened by the local Master Carriers’ Association anti was attended by several representatives of tlie 1 Mvcrty Lay branch oJ tho Farmers’ Union. Air. G. Brockleoank, president oi the Association was in the chair.

The chairman explained that the conference was called to see whether any redress could he obtained Loin the Alain Highways Board or Transport Board on the matter or lorry ,oad and speed restrictions, in t-> ■ district the maximum load was 6j tens, whereas, in Hawke's Bay, trie limit wits 8 tons. The long l limit resulted in increased costs of transport and therefore the- matter was one oi great importance to farmers. At fib or 4u lorries*'were affected by the regulations. .Mast big trucks weigued 4tons when the. sheep crate was tilted, hence it meant that only a relatively small number of sheep could be carried. The carriers luiu already approached the Cook County Council and Main Highways Board idlicials without result. The roads were classified as third-class, but the carriers would suggest that they lifted to second-class. The speed limit restrictions were another important matter and lorries were forbidden to travel more than 16 a~o miles an hour, whereas the buses were subject, to a 2f-mile limit. The result of the low limit was that, very frequently, it was possible to malic only one trip in a day instead ot two which naturally meant that the transport charges were higher or the lorries would be running at a loss. The carriers considered that a more equitable arrangement than the present one was for tlie petrol tax to cover all motor users in place of the present heavy traffic fee. Ahe existing speed limits were too slow because iu many places they would not be able to get along m top gear. A speed of 20 'to 25 miles per hour was considered necessary. Air. J. U. Field stated that the burners were sympathetic in that n )rit iheir pockets • and costs should not lie increased at present. He behoved that the Alain High w* vs Board had under consideration tho . xtension of the limit- by hob a. ton. Air. H. Adair commented that the Cook County Council would not turn down tlie earners’ • a npeal without very good reason. Possibly the. blame lav on the carriers themselves t-e----enuse they travelled at excessue speeds s:lid with heavy weights, t..usbreaking up the roads. If this were to continue, then the burden on farmers would be very great, Jr 'ae -arriers made losses they could , not blame the farmers, for the fault lay with tlie carriers in buying the wrong tvpe of lorries. ‘ Air. AI. T. B. Hall, who explained that he was present as a farmer and not as a member oi the Cook County Council, said that when the council discussed the matter with the District Engineer, Air. O. G. Thornton, the latter had claimed that one heavier loads would be too much lor the district roads which were not standing no to the present traffic A T r F. Aleßrcen contended that a 'orrv would beat a road down but •iot pot-bole it as did balloon-tyreti traffic. He bad proved this by tests on a little-used section of road. Air G. V. Smith expressed the opinion'that the carriers should be thanked for placing the position before the fanners before increasing cartage rates. It was nm fair that farmers’ produce should be penalised to make good'roads for motor cars. Everything was passed on to the taimor," who should protest before there were more impositions. In reply to questions, the chairman explained that the Association wished for abolition of the heavy traffic fees and that the required revenue should be made up by increased ben- ' All*. Hall said that, as a farmer, he would enclo'-se the aim or rhe Association in this direct on. except Ih-t heavv traffic fees should be retained on roads competing with rhe ra ?f r a 'Field moved in the following terms': “That the Cook County Cnuneil he urged to forward a request to the. Alain Highways Board to a ov the carriers a concession of half a ton increase in the present weight limit and that the maximum speed be increased to 25 miles an hour. This was carried, Air. Hall retraining from voting.