LORRY TRAFFIC

Grey River Argus, 19 August 1931, Page 5

LORRY TRAFFIC

NEW REGULATIONS — Minister’s Statement (Per Press Association).'' WELLINGTON, August’ IS. Been to-day with reference to tho draft amendment to the heavy lorry r gulations, Mr Veitct said that tho transport Department had been ac-

tively engaged during the ast two years, carrying out extensive invest!gations iu connection with road transport. Generally specially qualified engine. i S were obtained from the Public Works Department, and a i good deal of information had been placed at the disposal of local auth- ’ oritiea, to illustrate the desirability of the road protection powers being fully exereisl d. The response ’ bad been extremely gratifying in most eases, with the result that about 300 U miles of important main highways had been classified by local authorities. in conjunction with the Department. flor the purpose of reducing the g. oss loads of vehicles. This Would ; result i:i considerable economies in load costs, and the actual cost of road transport, d-spite the fact that smaller (vehicles were necessitated. Every opportunity had been taken, .also, to encourage road controlling authorities to bring about wider observance of these heavy lorry regulations, but it wa s not likelv that any ■ action woud be taken by the Transport Department, which would have the effect of materially increasing .the transport costs.

. It is interesting to note, said the -minister, that- some of those authorities loudest in thear criticisms of the suggested changes in regulations were doing little or nothing t 0 enIfoicc the necessary under I the existing regulations which protected their own ratepayers. In regard to new regulations, tho Min.ster said, the Government hal sought constructive advice, but its effort at harmonious consultation had not been universally accepted in that spirit, and in some cases, the proposals had been opposed on tho ground of additional expense, while I the eeotionii 's which far outweighed | the oost had been ignored. Arrange|ments had been made with tho Counties’ Association and others to hold a conference at Wellington to eonsidi «:h • craft regulations rind al 1 the I suggested amendments. The conferIcnce would include representatives of local bodies, road users, and motor interest., a s well as th-* executive committee specially set up by the Civil Engineers’ Society to investigate rural roading in the Dominion.