Motor Traffic on Christmas Eve

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7011, 22 November 1932, Page 7

Motor Traffic on Christmas Eve

VEXED QUESTION BEFORE CITY COUNCIL

Businessmen Concerned at Possible Prohibition in Square

Will cars be allowed into the Square on Christmas and New Year’s Eves? With the close approach of these two festive occasions, this question has become one of vital issue as was evidenced by the lengthy discussion which ensued at the City Council meeting last night. Two deputations—one from the Labour party in Palmerston North representing the pedestrians and the other from the business people—placed their views before the City Fathers and it was early evident that they were in conflict.

It was reported by the works committee of the council that Messrs. A. J. Graham, F. Cousins and H. E. Edmunds were present as representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, in response to an invitation to discuss the question of motor traffic entering and leaving the Square on Christmas and New Year’s Eves. The representatives were of the opinion that a majority of the business men were favourable to the entrance of traffic to the Square at least for some time during the above evenings. It was agreed by the representatives that some restriction of traflic was necessary and the 1930 regulations in this respect were quoted with approval. The traffic manager stated that he had experienced great difficulty in controlling traffic in 1930 and his department preferred the 1931 regulations. It was decided to recommend that the following restrictions shall apply to motor traffic on Christmas and New Year’s Eves, with the exception of commercial vehicles, travelling public, medical men and invalids: —‘‘That no traffic be allowed to enter the .Square after 6.30 p.rn., and that all traffic be required to leave the Square by 7 p.m.”

North, and with many of the thoroughfares no wider, surely there is no justification for such a drastic step,” it was stated. “Tho width of our streets makes this arrangement unnecessary. We have the largest parking area in the centre of any city in the Dominion, holding approximately 300 cars, without parking any. cars in front of shops, and this will bo out of commission on the night on which it is most required. The same traffic control at the intersections to stop motor traffic could be used to ensure motorists travelling at a slow rate. One-way traffic would ensure that motorists would uso only the garden side of tho streets. Commercial interests have little need of measures to curtail business these days, and we feel that necessary arrangements should bo made by tho council to welcome any visitors to the city and not shut the doors on their customers.”

Mr. Bennett said there had only been two refusals which had come front cycle dealers. He declared that the businessmen were united in their protest. The closing of the Square last year had a disastrous effect on business and Feilding people used the fact against Palmerston North. Tho speaker quoted instances where farmers coming into town last Christmas Eve had been disappointed in not being able to get into the heart of the town. Nothing should be done to curtail business and on this occasion after a very dull year, the request of the businessmen should be granted. Tho shopkeepers also contributed 25 per cent, of the revenue handled, by the council and should be entitled to some consideration. To keep the people out of the town would do it irreparable damage. Mr. A. Hopwood said the welfare and prosperity of Palmerston North was almost entirely dependent on the farmer and the transport of those coming to the city was practically all per motor. Thus every facility possible should be given those using cars and they should be treated as best customers. The businessmen asked for as little alteration as possible from the ordinary Saturday regulations. The chance of accident in slowly-moving traffic was not great. An officer could be placed at each intersection to control the cars which could be parked around the gardens first. The remainder could then be directed to the other parking streets. Mr. Jas. Wallace said Palmerston North’s wide streets should be kept in mind when the council considered its decision. The businessmen would bo satisfied with the parking on the garden side. Strong indignation had been expressed —almost a unanimous protest —at the arrangements made last year. The council should bo very careful before it closed the gates of the city to motor traffic. Customers objected to carrying parcels too far and invariably on Christmas Eve they were weighty parcels as a result of the need for preparing for the hrdidays. The busmessmen conceded the advantage of the areas adjacent the footpaths being clear. With adequate control of tho traffic there should be no confusion and no accidents. The council could get some assistance from the police.

The first deputation to arrive was from the Palmerston North branch of the Labour party which advocated a repetition of the system inaugurated last Christmas Eve.

Mr. Yule, the first speaker, said it was known that in important cities during festivities, motor traffic was restricted. Tho cars had the free run of the Square 364 days of the year and pedestrians were asking that they be given the freedom of the streets for only four hours of the year. Mr. Yule mentioned that in Hawera and New Plymouth tho cars were turned out of the main street. Mr. P. T. Robinson said it seemed to. be whacking a dead horse to ask the council to debar motor traffic from the Square. Prior to the motor-car the farmer did not drive his horse and trap around the Square to put his parcels in. Ho stabled his horse and carried his purchases there. Two years ago oneway traffic was tried out, but had not prevented accidents. Mr. Dailey said he was very pleased to hear the Mayor say the council’s ilrst consideration would be the safety of tho people. The speaker said there was an extra special reason why tho pedestrians should be granted the concession of motor-free streets on Christmas Eve and that was the fact that this year, Christmas and New Year’s Eves would be the only holiday-making they would see owing to the depression. The business people of Palmerston North surely did not depend on the four hours of 'Christmas and New Year's Eves for their prosperity and he appealed to them to help bring a little sunshine into the lives of the poorer people. Or. Aitchiscn asked the deputation if if would meet its wishes if tho pedestrians were allowed the half of the road nearest the footpaths. The Mayor said the consideration of the council was firstly for the safety of the citizens but at the same time it did not want to do anything to affect the business people. Mr. Yule, answering, said he could not accept that as a compromise as one had to allow for the careless motorist.

Mr. I F. Cousins, referring to the Mayor’s remarks about comparison of business, said that if inquiries had been made outside the .Square, it would have been found that it had improved last year. How many accidents had occurred in the Square on past occasions? There had been nothing of a serious nature nor had there been any accidents during the Royal Show. To the businessmen should be given then right and proper dues. Cr. Hodgens said what had impressed him most were the arguments raised about shopping difficulties. Mr. Bennett had said there was parking around the gardens for 300 cars. What was rr o ing to happen to the other hundreds . Were they going to be carccnng around the Square? Mr. Bennett said tho control officers would direct the others to outside parking areas. In any case it was not conceivable that the Square would be fll The Mayot: That is not the point. Do you propose stopping the cars irom ccmffig in as soon as the Square is filled and you have one line ot moving '"Mr! Hopwood, in reply, declared that if the traffic officers were proper* in b structcd, they could carry the 3°» to b.» ‘h”°”g derstood so that it could not be back at the council that i« d wrong thing as was the case last ycox. The decision of the council last yem to prohibit cars coming into the Squat had been blamed for the falhng-offi trade and not the depression. Or. Fitzherbert thought there nou rot be more than 25 per cent, motor traffic on Christmas Eve than cm a urdav night. To be consistent the council should prohWit traffic on Saturday nights. vitzherMr. Bennett thought Cr. Fitzlier bert’s estimate a fair one. Cr. Tremaine asked if the businessmen had any suggestions to make as to the time cars in the one-way traffic could stop temporarily in order to

Cr. Free pointed out that motorists m Queen street, Auckland, were allowed the full use of the street. Mr. Yule said he believed trafiie was prohibited in Queen street, Auckland, during definite hours. Cr. Brown asked if parking on the inside areas of the Square with oneway traffic, would meet the pleasure of the pedestrians. Mr. Yule said he would leave that to the good sense of the council. The Mayor, referring to Mr. Yule’s statement about the imbecile driver, said he also knew of the imbecile pedestrian and when both met there was a danger of an accident. In asking the businessmen present to state their case, the Mayor said that up to tho present he had not heard any arguments that -would prejudice the interests of the businessmen, it was very hard to compare one year’s takings with another.

Mr. G. H. Bennett was the first speaker and ho placed before the council a petition signed by 300 businessmen in and around the Square.

“We quite agree-,” stated the petitioners, ‘ ‘ that parking in front of the shops might constitute a danger to pedestrians, but there is no justification for not allowing parking in the areas round tho gardens. The street accommodation is provided by the ratepayers for the purpose of providing adequate access from and to the business area. To close the means of ascecs to the main business area of • the city on the night when it is urgently needed is most unreasonable and unjust.” The petition also set out that country residents relied on their motor-cars to bring them into town, and every facility should be given for this purpose, and adequate arrangements made by the council for tho extra influx, without closing the main arteries of traffic.

“When cities like London and New l r ork can control their traffic with 300 times the population of Palmerston