CONTROL PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 14

CONTROL PLANS

AUCKLAND PROBLEMS

EXPERT ADVICE ADVOCATED

CROSSINGS FOR PEDESTRIANS

Matters concerning city traffic problems and the control of pedestrians in congested areas were tho subject of reports to the City Council at its meeting last night by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis. The engagement of an export traffic and transport authority from Australia to advise on local problems was advocated by Mr. Davis, who also suggested that the recent experiment of providing defined crossings for pedestrians in Queen Street might shortly bo made the subject of a new by-law. The Mayor stated that the city was now faced with the necessity of dealing comprehensively with the entire subject of traffic control and introducing the most up-to-date scientific methods applicable to local conditions. "Ihe recent Safety First Week, which had proved satisfactory in its results, had focussed attention on traffic regulations, control of parking, relief of congestion in busy thoroughfares, and the proper direction of pedestrians. Growth in Traffic The magnitude of the problem was accentuated by the steady growth in motor traffic. Licences in connection with all forms of transport issued for v nine months last year totalled 20,265. compared with 18,182 for the corresponding period of 1934. Ihe increase would probably be continued. " In my opinion the present system of manual control does not meet modern requirements." said Mr. Davis. " Consideration might well be given to the adoption of supplementary scientific means. I have received complimentary reports on the improved efficiency of the Traffic Department, and 1 have impressed upon members of the department that it is the aim of Auckland to have the most efficient staff of traffic officers in Australia and New Zealand.'

Mr. Davis added that, with a view to further improvement, he and Mr. W. T. Anderton, M.P., had initiated preliminary inquiries regarding an Australian authority who might be available to visit Auckland and advise on methods of traffic control most suited to local conditions. Adoption of Report The Legal and By-Laws Committee recommended the adoption of the Mayor's report, but suggested that at a later date the Superintendent of Traf. fic, Mr. C. Bland, should be sent overseas to gain further experience. An amendment was moved that the Mayor's report should be adopted and that the additional recommendation by the committee should be deleted. Mr. J. Sayegh said he had voted against the recommendation by the committee, but he was quite satisfied to vote for the adoption of the Mayor's report. The report was accordingly adopted. In his report to the council on the recent experiment in pedestrian control in Queen Street, the Mayor said the defined crossings, marked out in white lines, had resulted in the. more orderly crossing of pedestrian traffic. Later it might be necessary to draft a hv-law, which would require drivers of vehicles to give right of way to pedestrians on defined crossings and also to prohibit pedestrians from crossing the roadway at other than specially sippointed places. Control was being extended to Karangahape Road, where defined crossings were to be made within the next few days. Installing Light Signals

The superintendent of traffic was investigating the cost of obtaining suitable light signals for the benefit of pedestrians and it was expected that thp department would shortly be in a position to demonstrate a suitable device -produced locally at low cost. Owing ,to the demand for officers for other duties it was not possible to continue pedestrian crossing control under supervision for more than a few days at a time, but arrangements were being made to have men on duty at the most suitable periods. The Mayor added that he proposed to recommend provision in the next estimates for increasing the personnel of the Traffic Department. Mr. Davis also reported that he had made arrangements with the Police Department for the city engineer to be advised immediately of street accidents resulting in broken windscreen glass, so that arrangements could be made expeditiously for clearing the broken glass from the roads. On the motion of the deputy-mayor, Mr. B. Martin, the Mayor's report was adopted and endorsed. Mr. Martin said he hoped the Mayor's appeal for public co-operation in pedestricn traffic control would meet uitb success. The Mayor deserved 'the compliments of the council on his activities in the matter.

THE WATERFRONT ROAD OBJECTION TO POWER POLE The desire of the Auckland Harbour Board to erect a terminal pole on the embankment of the waterfront road near the Bastion Point for the purpose of carrying an electric cable over the road is not shared by the Auckland City Council, and the board is to be requested to lay the cable underground. At the meeting of the council last night a letter from the board stated that the cable for the proposed electrification of the Bean Hock lighthouse would be brought across the. Orakei district to the cliff above the road and then to the terminal pole on the edge of the road. From the pole the current would be taken to Bean Rock by submarine cable. The aim of the council is to keep the waterfront road free of overhead wires and unsightly poles and it was decided to suggest to the Harbour Board that the cablo be laid underground where it will cross the road.

RAILWAY HOARDINGS LOCAL CONTROL WANTED The action taken by the Auckland City Council in connection with th<j hoarding erected on railway property at the commencement of the waterfront road was commended in a letter received by the council last night from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. It was stated that the question of the amendment, or repeal of section 392 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933. which exempts the Crown from the operations of the Act, was being considered by the Associated Chamber of Com merce. Mr. E. J. Phelan said it was time the council took up this matter of disfiguring hoardings erected by the I'aihvny Department in the city and approached the Government with a request for their removal. The Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, said the matter was being looked into and would be brought before the council at its next meeting.