“MOTOR HOGS.”

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18352, 9 March 1920, Page 7

“MOTOR HOGS.”

THE QUESTION OF SPEED LIMIT. PROTEST TO WAIMAIRI COUNCIL. A good portion of the time of the Waimain County Council was taken up last evening in hearing a large deputation whioh waited on the council to protest against any alteration of the speed limit on motor traffic through Papanui and Belfast.

Mr A. It. Boenicko (representing tho Wairarapa Riding) said lie was surprised at any action which would increase the speed limit from twelve to eighteen miles an hour. He condemned the “ kerosene stink waggons,” and said the pedestrian traffic hold the prior right to the roadways. He had often wondered whether the Waiiuairj Counoil was acting for the ratepayers or the “road hogs” of Christchurch. The council should be very careful about what it was doing, as he knew several gentlemen, if the council maintained its attitude, who would put their hands in their pockets and get an injunction. Motor-ears were “ floating up ” Harewood Road at sixty miles an hour. Mr A. E. Lawn. (Belfast) spoke as to the danger to school children, and to protest that the motor -speed should be at a, minimum. Cars went through at thirty miles an hour. They should leave the speed limit at twelve miles per hour, and leave the local constable to use his discretion. At the most, in obeying tho by-law, motorists would only lose one or two minutes. The council was there for the interests of the ratepayers, and it was better that a motorist should lose a minute than a child its life. The Automobile Association’s signboards, “ Drive \ slowly, showed that it recognised the grave danger of accident at certain points. His hair had stood on end at the pace on Sundays. ~ Mr A. D. Brice (representing the Burgesses’ Association) said not one motorist in ten observed the tv. eh e mile speed limit. « If, however, it was increased to eighteen miles the cars would bo going at thirty. Hocently ho had seen two motors travelling along the North Road at forty to fifty miles an hour, one trying to pass the other, and thev were enveloped in a cloud or dust. They had a vigilant policeman restricting the speed, but he received no thanks from the Automobile Association. For every motorist caught “speeding” fifty got past. The council ought to stick to the speed limit—twelve miles an hour—which it had on its hooks at tho present time. Of the offenders caught not one was travelling at under twenty miles an hourMr L. Witherington said it was an absolute standing disgrace to tho ratepayers and those in authority to have such things ns “ road hogs” flying through Papanui, and tearing the roads to pieces. Other speakers commented on tlto danger of the Tramway Board using the tram terminus as a traffic yard. Ninety per cent of motorists said one, in reply to Mr W. J. Walter, broke the by-law. Mr liven suggested that the deputation should bring the matter under the notice of the School ConmnJtees' Association.

Mr Walter thought the members of tho association should attend the Automobile Association’s speed test. The ohairman (Mr W- P. Spencer) remarked that it was Mr Staples who had given notice that the present bylaw as to tho speed limit should’ he rescinded. Mr Staples was away in Dunedin at present, however, and the motion would have to stand over.

, After the deputation had retired it was agreed that tho matter should stand over till Mr Staples’s return. Mr Uren: If you increase the limit you are up against a lot of trouble. There was before the council later a request from the Canterbury Automobile Association,, for permission to hold a speed judging contest on the Sawyers’ Arms Road on Saturday, March 20., It was stated that there was no intention to break any retard, but only to demonstrate at what speed cars were under control. This led to a further discussion on speeding, and Mr Walter remarked that tim only way to stop “ road liogs ” was if they were caught twice to take their licenses away. On the motion of Mr Gross the permission asked for was granted.