CITY TRAFFIC CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19447, 1 October 1926, Page 12

CITY TRAFFIC CONTROL.

The negotiations between the Commissioner of Police and the City Council regarding the provision for traffic control at the principal intersections have been terminated by the council's decision to employ its own staff of inspectors for the duty, and the commissioner's agreement to extend the existing arrangement for another month. This result appears to be due to excessive confidence on both sides. There was a tone of finality in. the commissioner's original /Intimation of the conclusion of the contract that implied complete dependence on the police force, and the council, having its dignity hurt by this ultimatum, was perhaps excusably hasty in asserting its ability to undertake the task. The subsequent correspondence has revealed that the Commissioner of Police merely sought a revision of the financial terms. lie has offered to provide police constables for point duty at two-thirds of the actual cost exclusive of some incidental expenses. The city's chief traffic inspector has undertaken to maintain traffic control for a longer period daily at a total cost less by £762 than the charge proposed by the Police Department. The comparison between the State department's quotation and the municipal department's estimate is so striking that the possibility of realising the economy seems doubtful. Mr. Hogan promises an equally efficient service ; his inspectors are to do more work; and the whole cost is to be borne by the city instead of only two-thirds under the police proposals. The council having adopted its officer's recommendations, he will have opportunity to demonstrate that his calculations are sound.