TRAFFIC CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22390, 9 April 1936, Page 15

TRAFFIC CONTROL

Sir, —It was recently reported to the City Council that Mr. Maddox, the traffic expert, of Sydney, would bo available to come to Auckland in about six months' time to make a report on the traffic control of this city. To my mind, this is tho wrong procedure for our City Council to take. Mr. Maddox is no doubt a very able man in his own sphere, and I believe that ho has been studying the traffic conditions throughout the world for cities with a million population or over. The traffic for a small city like Auckland is quite a different proposition, we might just as well consider bringing a traffic expert from London, where at times tho traffic has to be controlled from tho air. The City Council should show faith in their own chief traffic officer and send him abroad to study tho latest methods of traffic control. If ho were sent ho would arrivo back with tho very latest ideas firmly impressed on his mind and would also bo hero permanently to put the knowledge gained into practice, whereas if Mr. Maddox came hero ho would, after a short stay place his report before tho City Council, collect liia fee and then go away and leave our chief traffic officer to carry out his suggestions, whether they were suitable for a small city like Auckland or not. The City Council 10contly very wisely made a very substantial grant to Mr. Melling for his tour abroad and no doubt tho city will bo better off when he arrives back with tho knowledge that he will gain for the control of his own department. New Zealand being so isolated, it must continue to send its busiuess men and officials abroad if they are to keep abreast with the times. It has been my experience during my various tours abroad the last few years that owing to the enormous increase in motor traffic the general system of traffic control has been entirely revolutionised So let our City Council do the job thoroughly and send our chief traffic officer abroad for a few months to obtain the necessary information first hand, without receiving :t second hand from any other traffic'officer, however able. It would cost less and be more effective. H. G. Butcher.