HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 398, 16 May 1922, Page 6

HEAVY TRAFFIC.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l have read with surprise your report in last night's paper re the decision of the Horowlienua Council to bar heavy traffic on the county roads, also that )he cost of repairing the said roads was bewildering. Now,,, sir, it seems to me that ihis is simply victimising one section of the community, as the heavy traffic which passes through the county's roads only touch about one-fifth (about 14 miles) of the total roads controlled by them, and unless they contemplate putting them ctown in concrete I fail to see, whore tho cosi will bo so bewildering, as they have ample metal right alongside most of their roads. They also seem to overlook the fact that the' motor-lorries form but a very small percentage of the traffic using the said roads—l should say about one lorry to every twelve cars, which are the real roadwreckers with their high speed—while tho lorry has more of a. rolling action with its wide tyres and slow movement. Then there is another aspect of the case. What is going to become of these lorries and their drivers in these days of unemployment ? 1 do not think that their argument ' of robbing the railways will hold water, seeing on the Minister's own statement the main line of the North Island, which is the one compered against, made a net return of £523,314, with a profit of £517,428 for the whole of the North Island lines. I think this speaks for itself. Then again several of the owners of these vehicles are returned soldiers who have bought their lorries with repatriation loans and have been working hard to pay off but still owe a considerable amount. What will happen to these men who, when they went to fight for their country were promised all sorts of things, and then when they are beginning to find their feet are confronted with this sort of thing? If there was any justification for these measures one would not mind, but I will defy any councillor or engineer between Palmerston North and Wellington to point to a single mile of road in the whole 113 miles that has been at all maintained like a road should be and prove that the heavy lorry has done any damage to it any more than any other vehicle using ii. If they can I am willing to pay £5 to the local hospital providing they do the same it tliev fail. In conclusion. I may. state that the' traffic which the lorries conduct will never revert to the railway until they reduce the freight for one thing and Distal a. more expedient service for another, because although they drive the big lorry off the road, which 1 doubt, they will find a host of small ones to fill their places, ana narrow tyres and fast speed, which will have to be maintained to make it profitable, will soon show those councillors which is the better for their roads. There is a decision to be given ai the next sitting ol the Otaki Court which it will be in the interests of those councils contemplating the measures 1 have mentioned to watch. I refer to the case of the llutt County Council v. (lose, of Levin, and Doyle, of Palmerston North (two returned men), for exceeding the three-ton limit over the Paekakariki hill, and the result should influence them before they pass these unjust bv-laws.—l am, etc.. ONE OF THE CROWD. P.S.—My name and address can be obtained from The "Standard" Office if required over the £5 offer. Palmerston North. May 16, 1922.