CITY STREET CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19447, 1 October 1926, Page 14

CITY STREET CONTROL.

COUNCIL TO DO THE WORK.

POLICE OFFER NOT ACCEPTED

TWELVE NEW TRAFFIC MEN

TOTAL OF 370 APPLICANTS

The Auckland City Council last evening decided to proceed with the appointment of 12 additional traffic inspectors with the idea of taking over all traffic control in the city area.

For some years the control of traffic points at main intersections has been in the hands of the Police Department to which the council lias been paying £1312 xOs a year. Some weeks ago the Commissioner of Police gave notice of termination of the agreement, suggesting the council should make other arrangements for carrying out the duties. The council on August 5 empowered the Finance and Legal Committee to invite applications- for 12 additional traffic inspectors and to make the appointments. The committee received 370 applications. Writing on September 24 the Commissioner of Police said his department was prepared to continue point duty traffic control in, Auckland City between 8 a in. and 6 p.m. daily, excepting Sundays, on agreement with the council for £<ls6 a point a year. At present the minimum cost to the department for seven points was £4788 a year, exclusive of the cost of training, relieving, and supervising the 14 men so employed, and the annual payment by the council was £13.12 10s, but if continued on a new agreement it would be £3192, or two-thirds of the above quoted cost to the department. The agreement was to be for the performance of point duty only, and for the term of one year from the date of the agreement, so that the cost could bo reviewed at the expiration of that period should the matter of increase or decrease require consideration by the department. No duties other than point duty would bo undertaken by the police.

Chief Inspector's Views. 'The effect of an agreement such as that suggested by the commissi' ner was expiated in a report submitted by the chief traffic inspector, Mr. G. R. Hogan, who said the salaries for the additional inspectors would bo £260 a man a year. This, with the additional cost of uniform, cap, badges, rainproof coat and clotli great-coat, £l4 0s 6d, would, for "the first year, cost the council £3288 for the control of seven points. The uniforms were renewed every 12 months, the rainproof coats every two years and the cloth great-coats every three years. This would result, in the second year of the newly-appointed officers' service, in a less cost of £7 2s for uniform coats a

man. At present there were eight points controlled in the city daily, the intersection of Quay Street and Queen Street being controlled by the city traffic department. It was essential the control of this intersection should continue, as it was one of tho most important in the city, and in the near future if would be necessary that an additional point should be controlled, namely tho intersection of Customs Street West and Albert Street, during busy periods of the day. With the additional cost of point fluty control at the intersection of Quay Street and Queen Street, tho total amount under the police agreement would bo .£3648, and the control of the Customs Street West-Albert Street point would 1)0 a total cost of £4050 a year for nine points, against the department's estimated cost of £3288 per annum. Question of Night Duty. Further, in advising that the Police Department would . control the seven points from 8 a.m. until C p.m. daily the commissioner had made no provision for the night point duty, which was at present conducted by tho city traffic department, and should the Police Department bo requested by (he council to undertake this work additional >'Cmuneration would bo required. With the addition of 12 members to the present staff, the whole of the control work could be undertaken by the council. Jn urging that tho council should undertake the entire control of traffic tho caief traffic inspector said the outstanding reasons for such a course wqre. that there would bo increased efficiency as a result, of tho city officers being continuously ori point duty, the nine points could bo controlled at a cost of £752 loss than under tho commissioner's proposed agreement, and that by appointing its own officers tho council would have complete control. Selection of Applicants. The Finance and Legal Committee also presented a report, in which it was stated it had deferred making the appointments pending a decision on tho commissioner's proposal. 'lt was tFuT committee's intention, to make tho appointments at a special meeting next Tuesday. Of the 370 applications received the committee had retained 26 for the applicants to attend in person, as well as about 12 emergencies. The balance of the applicants had been advised that they wero not among this number and their papers had been returned. The. reports wore adopted, thus leaving the committee to make the appointments next Tuesday. Under the notice served by tho commissioner, police control of traffic points would haye ceased at August 31, but at the request of the council the commissioner agreed to continue the service until September 30. This extra period expired yesterday, but in view of tho fact that the delay in appointing the 'additional officers was due to the further negotiation*! with tho commissioner the council asked that the present service should bo carried on until the new staff could be made available. ,A .telegram was ■ received from Wellington agreeing to a further extension of one month.