TRAFFIC CONTROL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 141, 16 May 1936, Page 11

TRAFFIC CONTROL

CITY COUNCIL CRITICISED. LACK OF ACTIVITY ALLEGED. At a meeting of the Manawatu Automobile Association, last evening, the president (Mr N. H. Mackie) made some pointed comments on what he termed the “masterly inactivity” of the City Council in regard to its alleged failure to establish proper control of city traffic. His remarks arose from a letter received from the City Council stating that its decisions regarding traffic matters, given previously, still held, and- that nothing could be done until the estimates for the current financial year were considered.

The chairman said the letter from the council was most disappointing. Magistrates and others were daily remarking upon the very unsatisfactory state of traffic control in Palmerston North, and the position was truly most unsatisfactory. Mr J. L. Stout, the Magistrate, had made some outspoken comment, while the Chamber of Commerce, Justices of the Peace, the 50,000 Club and others were unanimous that there was a general lack of efficiency that should not be tolerated.

The council had taken action regarding 30-minute parking, and the association had no fault to find with that. The council’s action, however, would have met with more support if its enforcement of the regulations had begun with the more serious breaches of the by-laws such as speeding across intersections, failing to signal at a turn, and driving with one headlight and sometimes none at all. If they concentrated on these breaches something effective might be done. “Our constant request to the council has been to consider the city’s traffic problems comprehensively, but nothing lias been done in that direction,” added the chairman. “We do not wish to quarrel with the council, which is composed of men whom we hold in high regard ; but after our protracted representations we are entitled to expect something better than its policy of masterly inactivity. We will leave the matter there in the meantime but I have certain proposals to place before you in committee, which may have a further bearing on this matter. If the council intends to ignore the comment of the Bench and others I can only hope some support will be given these proposals.” The association then went into committee to consider the chairman’s proposals. THIRTY-MINUTE PARKING.

In regard to the 30-minute parking limit in shopping areas, the Palmerston North Retailers’ Association requested the association’s support in a deputation to the City Council. The retailers desired that the limit should be extended to two hours, as hulf-an-hour was not long enough in many cases to do business.

The association had been active :n having regulations made, remarked Mr H. E. Edmunds, and could not very well do anything that would undermine them.

The chairman said the matter was one for the retailers. If the council hail reviewed the traffic problem sensibly something satisfactory might have been done. Mr R. T. Jaggard thought two hours too long. In most of the city areas traffic was moving all the time, and permanent parking could be brought into vogue. Mr A. W. Just said that soone of the areas in the Square gardens would have to be devoted to parking. It was decided not to appoint a delegate on the deputation but to suggest to the retailers that they join with the association in appealing to the council for a comprehensive review of the parking question in Palmerston North. Such a move, if fully representative of the city, would compel the council to take action, it was stated.