MOTORS IN HAMILTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19321, 7 May 1926, Page 15

MOTORS IN HAMILTON.

UPKEEP OF THE STREETS. ; KERBSIDE PETROL' PUMPS. ATTITUDE OF THE COUNCIL. [by telegraph.—own correspondent. ] HAMILTON, Thursday. The Hamilton Borough Council last evening /considered recommendations from a special committee regarding the erection of ■ kerbside petrol pumps in the borough. They provide for the position of pumps and tanks, payment for damages to footways, and for license and inspection fees.- The number of pumps permitted each property-owner will be two, placed close together. On certain streets and where the carriageway is less than 30ft. or the footway less than 10ft., the erection of pumps is prohibited. Before the regulations come into operation the garage proprietors are to be interviewed and the whole matter reviewed. The question of motor taxation and the upkeep /of roads was considered, the regulations drafted by a committee coming before the council. It was deeidod to send the following resolutions .to city, borough, and county councils with a request that representations be made to the Government:—That this council views with the gravest concern the increasing burden which is being placed on its ratepayers in respect to the. formation and maintenance of the streets and is unanimously of the opinion: That such increased charges are due solely to the demands of, and the damage caused by, motor traffic. That it is totally inequitable to burden the ratepayers with the whole of these charges. That the Government be strongly urged to introduce the necessary legislation during the coming session and as a matter of urgency, transfer an equitable proportion of this burden from the ratepayer to the user of the roads and streets. After discussion it was resolved to forward to . the Government the following suggestions regarding means of taxation (a) That the present annual license fee per vehicle per annum be substantially increased and that such, increase-be paid to the local authority in -whose territory the vehicle is garaged: (b) that a tax he levied on all petrol passed through pumps installed' for the' distribution of petrol and that such tax be paid direct to the local authority in whose district such pnmps are intsalled; (c) that the net proceeds from .the foregoing be used exclusively (3n the formation or maintenance of streets or roads within the territory of each local authority. . • Several members took exception to the attitude of the resident police inspector, who has suggested that the council should amend its by-laws so that during the whole hours of the day, excepting Sundays, cars should not be, permitted to stand on Victoria Street longer than half an hour. Mr. F. W. Luxford failed to see why cars should not be permitted to stand any length of time at night. Other members wpre of the opinion that even if the electric lights.did fail at night, as had been stated by the police, cars with lights could easily see standing vehicles. A motion to amend the existing by-law was lost and it was decided to appoint a committee to interview the inspector. The committee did so., and he agreed to allow the present system to run for three months, and not take action r in the meantime.