MOTOR BY-LAWS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 May 1926, Page 7

MOTOR BY-LAWS

DO THEY HINDER HAWERA

A CORRESPONDENT SAYS “YES.”

OTHERS DISPUTE THE CLAIM. (To the Editor.) Sir, —An American visitor, so the tale goes, was taken to the top of the Ha- ■ wera water-tower to see the town. After a look round his comment was: “About as large as our cemetery and twice as dead.” All Hawera business men know that we are not getting our share of the district’s trade. What is the reason? It seems to me that the administration of our traffic by-laws, apd the constant pin-pricking to which motorists are subject, lies at the root of the trouble. One has only to mingle with the farmers of the surrounding districts to find that some of them are really ‘ ‘ scared ’ ’ to come to Hawera, and for the reason that I have mentioned. Time was when Hawera was the busiest shopping centre on the coast. Then came the prohibition of parking in High Street —and trade has never been the same since. There seems to be a good opportunity here for our local Retailers’ Association, Chamber of Commerce, etc. Community lighting is all right in its way, but it does not attract the farmer. - He is usually thinking of bed when the lights are switched on. Let us therefore make the town as free and easy as we can for him —within reason, of course—during the day. The firsfr step in that direction seems to be to rescind half the harassing by-laws and make very sure the other half are reasonable.— I am, etc., BUSINESS MAN MOTORIST. Hawera. OTHER OPINIONS EXPRESSED. The subjects covered in the letter were referred to certain local authorities and business representatives whose opinions are given below. “As Mayor of Hawera I have repeatedly received intimations from visitors expressing appreciation of their treatment while in the town, and of the good regulation of traffic and the general cleanliness of the town,” said Mr E. A. Pacey. ‘‘ I would naturally support any reasonable movement for adding to the attraction of the town,” continued the Mayor, “and would advocate, as suggested by “Business Man Motorist,” that the town be made as free and easy to visitors as possible consistent with care and responsibility, but there are very few, if any, of the by-laws I would be in favour of rescinding. While it is recognised that the average motorist will exercise due care as far as he is able for the safety of the general public, there may be others who do not do so, and it is because of the latter possibility that by-laws are necessary. If people will reasonably comply with the existing by-laws they have nothing to be afraid of. Our inspector is exceedingly reasonable in carrying out his duties, and the by-laws are no more harassing than in other centres.” Referring to the suggestion that trade in the town had declined, Mr Pacey said the fluctuation could be ascribed to ordinary trade conditions and the aftermath of the boom period. It could not by any means be claimed that the motor regulations had any effect on the position, and so far as the spending power of the district permitted Hawera was receiving a due proportion of business.

That the Hawera Borough Council was anxious to co-operate with business interests in meeting the convenience of motorists was shown by the fact that it. was the first local body between Auckland and AVellington to agree to the installation of kerbside petrol pumps, aud Avas one of the few authorities whicn. did not charge a license fee in respect of such. It was obvious, however, that ! indefinite parking could not be allowed in High Street, which was too narrow Ij for that purpose, but ample provision | was made for parking in adjacent areas. | Asked for his opinion concerning the ! provision of night parking areas where ! cars could be left' without lights, the [ Mayor expressed approval of the prin- | ciple conditionally that danger to other j traffic was not involved. .

TRADE NOT SLIPPING AAY AY. j| Air L. A. Bone, an ex-Mayor of Ha-! wera, said he could not endorse the suggestion that trade had never been the' same since parking in High Street was prohibited. Emphasising his opposition to the suggestion, Mr Bone said that the volume of trade during the month just concluded showed, in two local business concerns which he instanced, the biggest record of any April since 1919.

‘‘Visitors to the town have on many occasions spoken to me in terms of appreciation concerning the provision made for directing motorists to parking areas,” continued Mr Bone, ‘‘and that the arrangements are worthy of commendation is shown by the fact that, since the institution of the disc system in HaAvera, the authorities at New Plymouth have taken similar action.” Air Bone further pointed out that parking areas located to the central business area, Avere provided in Ref gent Street, Napier Street, Riddiford Street, Albion Street, Union Street, A'ietoria Street, and Nelson Street, and on one Avet day some months ago he had counted 180 cars parked in five of the areas named. It Avould be quite impracticable, hoAvever, to allow parking in High Street, as it had been found that such led to congestion of traffic Avhich, during busy periods, constituted a lhenaco to public safety. Referring to our correspondent’s intimation that the town should be made ‘‘as free, and easy” as possible to the farming community, Air Bone gave the opinion that the by-laAvs were very reasonably interpreted by those responsible for their enforcement, and he did not think the officials could in any sense be accused of being oppressive in the discharge of their duties.

STILL THE BUSIEST CENTRE. Mr E. Dixon, another ox-Mayor, and the present president of the Chamber of Commerce, supported Mr Bone’s remarks. Referring to the recent volume of trade, he said he considered that Hawera was still the busiest shopping centre on the coast. “ I do not think there is any reason to complain concerning the arrangements for parking cars, nor of the enforcement of by-laws, which are given very liberal interpretation from the motorists’ standpoint,” said Mr Dixon. “It must be considered, however, that any local authority has a certain duty to perform in safeguarding pedestrian traffic, and in view of the big increase during recent years in motor traffic, it has become necessary to frame by-laws to cope with ruling circumstances. Accidents which occur in town areas give forcible

illustration to the necessity for such measures, and the public should realise that they are only adopted in the common interest.”

Asked concerning the provision for night parking, Mr Dixon admitted that some improvement could be made, and gave the opinion that legislation should be enacted allowing local authorities to declare certain areas where cars could be left without lights. In Hawera Eiddiford Street, Napier Street, and Albion Street might be so declared. While, as they were “ blind” streets, certain privileges were allowed at present in the first two named, the custom should be supported by an enacted bylaw. . DON’T PARK. IN HIGH STREET. Mr. F. C. Spratt, who at the last meeting of the Chamber of Commerce led a discussion relating- to the parking of cars, pointed out- in conversation with the Star's reporter that the trend in Great Britain and in tne Larger cities in the Dominion was to have traffic regulations interpreted from the standpoint of public safety in particular circumstances, rather tlian a rigid adherence to stipulations, concerning speed and required action. Mr. Spratt was not in accord with the suggestion that Hawera was not receiving a fair proportion of trade from the surrounding district, but agreed that a too rigid adherence to certain traffic by-laws might result in a town being given an unenviable reputation and deflect business to other centres where more elasticity was observed. He considered that in insti- I tuting the disc system of indicating I parking areas the local authorities had i been prompted by a very laudable intention, but thought that the- presence of the discs might lead, to an undesirable impression of restriction. To obviate that he suggested that the public be informed bv notices at the entrances to the town and in other conspicuous i [places that cars could be parked anywhere but in High Street, conditionally that in the thoroughfares used the cars were not left within a chain of High Street. He also thought that night parking areas, suitably illuminated, where cars could be left without lights, should be provided adjacent to churches and places oi public entertainment. In conclusion, Mr. Spratt gave the opinion that our correspondent had perhaps exaggerated the position, but he agreed that provision should be made to give visitors every possible consideration. S.T.A.A. ACTIVITIES. Mr. W. G. Walk-ley, the secretary of the South Taranaki Automobile Association. explained that as a result of proposals made by the association the New Zealand Automobile Union had made representations to the authorities concerning the provision of night parking areas, and legislation had been drafted giving local authorities power to declare areas where cars could be- left without lights. The adoption of the necessary measures could be expected this year. Concerning the bv-laws affecting motor traffic at Hawera, Mr. Walkiey said that the association had appointed a committee of three to in- | quire into the conditions and frame proposals for the improvement and modification of the motor by-laws of the town. These, in due course, would

be submitted to the Borough Council for its consideration. The association was fully alive to the fact that a too rigid enforcement of the by-laws had a tendency to discourage country visitors, and the association further realised that a by-law was adopted as a means of restricting the type of person who would abuse any privilege.