TRAFFIC CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 16

TRAFFIC CONTROL

I INCREASE IN VEHICLES

! HIGHEST YET RECORDED t ! j DEVELOPMENT OF SIGNALS | A I PROFITABLE MOTOR PARK i The total number of motor vehicles .registered in the Auckland metropolitan area to the end of December, ;1937, was 32,190, according to the iannual report of the City Traffic Department presented to the City Council last night. This is stated to be the highest figure yet recorded, the ratio of motor vehicles to the population being one vehicle to 7.2 persons. ; The report stated that this steady increase in the number of vehicles using the city streets created problems of traffic control, and the traffic superintendent, Mr. C. Bland, referred to considerable improvements in the design and operation of modern vehicle-actuated traffic signals, which, iwith/ certain advantages and undoubted economies, merited the continued examination by the council to determine whether future control 'should be provided by the installation ■of such signals or by the employment |of more traffic officers for point duty, f The part played by the municipal ! parking area on the old railway (station site in relieving congestion on |the streets was mentioned by Mr. 'Bland. This area, he said, could accommodate 350 cars, and had b.;cn jwell patronised throughout the year, jln that period 41,590 daily tickets, jcosting 6d each, had been sold, and ;3953 weekly tickets, at 2s 6d, the ;average number of parkings a day being 240, with a total 0f.73,200 for the period. The total fees received had been £1531.

ZONING PLAN j PROPOSED ACCELERATION ! SEQUEL TO RECENT ACTION •» ■ ■ i The town-planning committee of the City Council has recommended acceleration of the city zoning scheme. The recommendation was affirmed at the council meeting last night, when it was stated that a tentative zoning plan had been prepared. [ This decision • arose from a recent judgment by Mr. Justice Callan in the Supreme Court, after he had heard Evidence upon the originating summons taken out by New Zealand breweries, Limited, against the council, to deterthe,.council was entitled jto refuse to allow the company to (erect a malt house on the Seccombe's jHodd" frontage of its property. His •Honor held/the council was entitled to clo so, notwithstanding that the time prescribed for the town-planning Scheme had elapsed.

BISK OF FIRE

TOWN HALL PRECAUTIONS

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The risk of fire-in the administrative portion' of the Town Hall and the possible loss of valuable municipal records j has been causing the City Council some -concern, and last night it was decided that a fire alarm system should be in-

stalled. In reporting on this matter the town clerk, Mr. J. Melling, said that most of the fixtures in the various departments were of wood and the floors were

laid in- wood. The council's records were \ greatly increasing in volume and until such time as more up-to-date premises were provided the fullest protection must be given. The superintendent of the Auckland . Fire Brigade, Mr. W. L. Wilson, reported that while no serious fire hazard existed the potentialities following an undiscovered outbreak might result in irreparable damage. A fire among the records would in the first instance be of the slow-burning type, but with the accompanying rise in temperature the possibilities of a major fire developing before discovery could not be overlooked. He recommended the installation of a fire alarm system, which, with

a connection to the fire station assuring an early call to the brigade, would provide the maximum protection to the council's property.

This matter was also the subject of ft report by the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, who suggested Hhat the alarm system - should be installed in the administrative portion of the building and that the openings in the brick wall separating this section from the public halls should be attended to. On the recommendation of the FinCommittee it was decided to make provision in the estimates for an alarm system at an approximate cost of £IOOO. STRUCTURE ON ROOF THE CTVTC HOUSE CASE The Court action in which Civic House, Limited, was convicted and fined £lO and costs for erecting a structure on the roof of Civic House building without having received a permit for the work from the City Council was mentioned at the meeting of the council last'night, when it was decided that the building should be allowed to remain on certain conditions.

_ The Finance Committee of the council recommended that permission be given for the additions to remain for. two years, subject to a bond for £2OO being put up for due performance. Mr. E. F. Andrews proposed that the report be referred back to the Finance Committee tor further consideration. He said that the £2OO would be paid and the building would remain for all time. The owhers who had acted in defiance of the council should be compfjlled to remove it.

was pointed out, however, that the council would still have power to or ™T removal of the structure The amendment was lost, the Labour members of the council voting for it, and the committee's recommendation was adopted.

FLOODED PROPERTIES RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNERS A request from residents in Clonbern l killmgton Roads, Remuera, that the City Council should take steps to prevent the recurrent flooding said to Occur ,in times of heavy rainfall was fot granted by the council last night, he city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, reported that the work would cost in the neighbourhood of £IO,OOO. Mr. Tyler said the matter had been brought before the council at various times from 1916 to this year, but in 1917 pnd again in 1920 it was shown that the flooding was due to watercourses on private properties becoming partly blocked. In those circumstances, ft was decided that the onus Vas upon property owners to take stop# to enWro tmrt >no •action, or neglect their * tor tGn< * °k sfcruct tht flow