NOISE IN CITIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22071, 29 March 1935, Page 14

NOISE IN CITIES

NEED FOR EDUCATION TRAFFIC AND INDUSTRY EXISTING RESTRICTIONS The view that persuasion and education were more effective than legal action for reducing noise in cities was expressed by the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, in a report to the City Council last night. If aircraft were excepted, city noises were produced either on private property or in public places, said Mr. Tyler. The actual building of a city produced some noise, but welding and other methods had rendered the clatter of riveting unnecessary. Noise was not a concomitant of all industry, but some industries were inseparable from noise and other annoyances. Under proper zoning schemes such industries were confined to certain restricted areas. So far as he was aware a municipality had no other power than this for the general restriction of noise originating on private property. The playing of instruments and operation of wireless sets and the like on private land could bo restrained if the sound caused annoyance to persons in the street, but an occupier had no remody against his neighbour except through a civil Court action. There was a certain amount of acquiescence in the noise of tramcars. which could not be made entirely soundless. The council had power to insist that the roadway occupied by the tracks should be maintained to its satisfac- | tion, but the responsibility for seeing that the rails and rolling-stock were properly maintained apparently lay with the Public Works Department. Discussing motor vehicles, Mr. Tyler said that noise from this source was resented as being avoidable. The regulations of 1933 under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924, made it an offence to operate a motor vehicle without an efficient silencer or with a cut-out, or a vehicle which caused undue noise through disrepair, the manner in which it was loaded or the nature of its construction. The engine of a motor vehicle must not be run in a manner causing unreasonable noise. Warming devices must not be used otherwise than for reasonable traffic needs or so as to produce an offensive noise. The engineer briefly referred to such measures as prohibiting the use of horns in certain areas within specified hours, preventing traffic from passing certain institutions at night, and the introduction of .a general speed limit. He considered, however, that the best results could be attained by persuasion and education, rather than by making restrictions and concentrating upon their enforcement. The legal powers for dealing with noisy motor vehicles were, in his opinion, adequate for the purpose. Noise from industry should become less troublesome as sioning progressed and plants were modernised and improved. The report was received.