CITY MOTOR BY-LAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19086, 3 August 1925, Page 10

CITY MOTOR BY-LAWS.

AUCKLAND'S GOOD EXAMPLE. PRAISE FROM VISITORS. SPEED LIMIT QUESTION. Tho motorists who havo been visiting Auckland in connection with tho North Island Motor Union conference havo been very favourably improssed with the manner in which the City Council controls motor traffic in tho city. During tls last two days tho southern delegates havo been motored round the district by members of tho Auckland Automobile, Association and havo had many opportunities of observing tho local by-laws in operation. Returning yesterday from a drive to St. Helioru Bay and tho proposed motor speedway at Mangere, tho newly-elocted president of tho union, Mr. A. J. Toogood, of Wellington, expressed his surprise that Auckland enjoyed a number of enlightened regulations which southern motorists wero still fighting for. Particularly noticeable was tho absence of speed limits within tho city area, the local authority relying upon tho common sonso of the drivors to exorciso proper care and placing tho onuß upon them if they drovo to the public danger. Tho result was that accidents occurred in Auckland certainly no more frequently than in tho South, while prosecutions seemed to bo fowor. Tho motor union, said Mr. Toogood, was still engaged upon a campaign to abolish speed limits throughout the island and it was hoped that before long other local authorities would be brought to see tho wisdom of tho Auckland by-law in this respect. Parking Without Lights. Another helpful measure noted by tho southern delegates was tho provision of certain spaces where cars may be parked without lights. In one street, they observed with interest that the control of the parked cars was entirely in tho hands of tho automobile association, which employed a carotakor to look after them. The result was that owners wero put to no loss in the way of stolen property. Then there was the practice in Auckland of parking cars diagonally to the pavement. In the South, a delegate remarked, motorists were obliged to back their cars into the pavement at ripjh. angles, so they greatly appreciated being permitted in Auckland to drive the car's nose in diagonally, thereby rendering the process of parking and getting out again much easier. Speaking of parking, it was mentioned that cars were not permitted to stand longer than ten minutes in the principal business streets of Wellington. In Auckland tho period is 20 minutes. Delegates admitted, that narrower streets added to tho difficulties in Wellington. Helpful Co-operation. " Those," said Mr. Toogood, summarising tho privileges mentioned, " aro some of the outstanding features.for which wo, as a union, havo been fighting throughout the Dominion for a long timo. Tho Auckland Antomobile Association is to be complimented for tho concern it has taken in theso matters, while tho Auckland City Council is to bo thanked for tho helpful manner in which it has and is co-operat-ing with tho association. All wo have seen during our visit points to a verv active energy on the part of both bodies. An excellent impression was gained by the visitors of tho good mileage of concrete 'streets of the city and suburbs, as well as those laid down in bitumen and those tar-3ealed. As to the merits of concrete and bitumen, they considered it beyond their province to make a comparison. Referring to the work .of the Main Highways Board, Mr. Toogood paid a tribute to the work performed on behalf of the motoring interests and good roads by Mr. M. H. Wynyard. Their affairs could not be in better hands, and the motor union was very grateful to him for carrying , out so thoroughly and conscientiously duties that were both onerous ajid gratuitous. -■ " 1 '