CITY STREET TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 12

CITY STREET TRAFFIC.

NEW SYSTEM OF CONTROL HAND-SIGNALLING ADOPTED. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. When the Auckland City Council takes over control of vehicular traffic at the principal city street intersections with its own augmented traffic staff on November 1 the stop-go mechanical signals upw in usa will be discarded, and handsignalling adopted exclusively. This course was approved by the City Council last evening, when a report was submitted by the chief traffic inspector, Mr. G. R. Hogan. The report stated it was generally agreed the combined mechanical and handsignalling at, the Customs Street-Queen Street intersection was the cause of considerable confusion. At a conference between the Police Department and the City Traffic Department in September of last year - it was agreed fhat hand-Signalling was preferable to mechanical control, and that the London hand-signalling system should be adopted. This matter was reported to the council; but. had been left in abeyance. As a result of his visit to Australia two years ago he learned that after experiments the mechanical signalling system had definitely been discarded, with the result that there was now a uniform system throughout Australia. He recommended that a uniform set of hand signals such as in operation in London should be adopted, and that the mechanical system at the several city intersections should be discontinued. The recommendation was adopted. The Finance and' Legal Committee reported the following additional traffic officers had been appointedß. P. Blenkarne, C. N.. Davenport, J. Graham, E. J C. Finny, C. A. Hopson, T. McMahon, T. McAteer, W. J. Minns, R. G. On-, W. S. Orr, E. E. Scholes and V. b. Smith. The application for the positions numbered 370. ' , , A draft of regulations for staff control of traffic officers submitted by the chief traffic inspector was adopted. In addition to more or less routine matters, were the following :-~Officers "must acquire a thorough knowledge of their duties and familiarise themselves with by-laws, Acts and other such matters applying to the regulation of traffic, as well as intimate knowledge of the topography of the city; officers shall wear black boots and white gloves while in uniform; officers on point duty must give the regulation signals only; fire engines, ambulances and VicoRegal cars are to be given precedence over other traffic; officers are forbidden to enter hotels or obtain liquor while in uniform, whether on duty or not, and any officer appearing on duty under the influence of liquor will be instantly suspended and reported to the council for dismissal; officers shall at all times be courteous and tactful when dealing with the public; officers while op point duty shall not converse with the public; officers while on duty in uniform must refrain from conversing with the public, or with each other, unless information is requested, which shall be given briefly and courteously; officers shall not smoke while on duty in uniform.-

A LIST OF REGULATIONS. PROTEST BY A COUNCILLOR. When the proposed regulations to govern the City Council's traffic officers, who will take the place of policemen on point duty, were being discussed by the council last evening, Mr. T. Bloodworth I said some of the regulations appeared to be ridiculous One of-the regulations, he said, required that a man should keep his greatcoat buttoned. "Surely," said Mr. Bloodworth. "a man has enough intelligence to do that without being commanded by regulation. I question the right of the council to introduce some of the regulations. There is one which ssys he must not doff his hat on such occasions as the passing of a funeral or the singing of the National Anthem, but mnst stand to attention." The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon: He is a special constable. "Yes, but ho is not a constable," replied Mr. Bloodworth. "And if ho takes his hat off when they play 'God Save the King' you are going to give him the sack!" It seemed the council was adopting the police regulations and applying tliem to its officers. Mr. J. A. C. Allum said the regulations had been carefully considered, and had been introduced to enable the men to present a smart appearamce when on duty.