TRANSPORT ACT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 15 August 1932, Page 5

TRANSPORT ACT

“MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING” COUNTY CHAIRMAN REPLIES TO RECENT COMPLAINTS Speaking to a “Mail” representative to-day the chairman of the Waimca County Council (Mr J. Corder) said that people had had a great deal to say about the provisions of the Transport Act in relation to road classification and heavy lorries without bothering to find out the actual position. Lorry owners, said Mr Corder, could always apply to the Council for a permit to travel over a road below the classification given. As a matter of fact the County had not refused one such application. There were of course conditions such as limiting the speed and the avoidance of the road in wet weather which were essential in the interests of ratepayers and other users of the road. “You can take it from me,” said Mr Corder, “the Waimea County Council is composed of a reasonable body of men who are only too willing to be reasonable in the matter.” Referring to the cartage of lime from -the Stoke works to the Rai, Mr Corder said that no application had been made for a permit to use the road in question. If such application had been made it would have been granted. The County Council was alive to the importance of the industry and was prepared to give it or any other industry every possible and reasonable consideration. It was to be regretted so many people did not bother to ascertain facts before rushing into print. Referring to the complaints of fruitgrowers, Mr Corder said that in the Stoke, Brightwater, Tasman, Lower Moutere and Riwaka districts, only one truck was licensed in the County which could not operate on Class 111 roads and to allow that lorry to operate all that was necessary was to obtain a permit which would be granted, subject to conditions mentioned above. For Class IV roads (there were only a very few such roads in the apple areas) it was necessary only for 10 trucks to obtain permits out of a total of 110 trucks. The Act said Mr Corder gave County Councils a measure of control over heavy lorries on certain roads but it was the endeavour of the Waimea County Council to consider each case on its merits and grant every facility possible consistent with fairness to the ratepayers generally.