WAIMATE WEST COUNTY

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1930, Page 3

WAIMATE WEST COUNTY

ISSUE OF DRIVERS’ LICENSES NEW REGULATIONS DISCUSSED. INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN. “The roadway around three of the curves on the Main South Road between Riverdale and the town boundary Ims been super-elevated,” reported the county engineer, Mr. J. A. Hansen, to the Waimate County Council yesterday. “To do this I had the old road surface broken up for a considerable distance at each side of the bend. The surface was re-laid. “Manaia Road has been re-surfaced with bitumen for the full width from, the town boundary to Normanby Road. About 30 chains of Normanby Road has also been re-surfaced with the same material. Tar-patching has been done on Lower Glenn, Skeet, Palmer and Manaia Roads. General maintenance has been done on Glenn, Skeet and Main South Roads. Most of the staff are now engaged on work near Kapuni widening Skeet Road. To make a good job df this road I found it necessary to break up the whole of the road from Dunn’s Creek to the Kaupokonui River,”

A letter was received from the Manawatu A. and P. Association asking for support for a resolution urging that the railways be brought under the control of an independent board. The chairman considered that if the Government could not run the railways there was no advantage in appointing a board. Even if a board of the very besfe men were appointed it would sitill .come under the Government. If all the suggested boards were appointed the country would be overrun with people who were trying to manage or mismanage the affairs of the country. They were up against mo-tor traffic and roads were beating the railways every time. Other councillors concurred and the, letter was received.

The chairman, in referring to the regional planning proposals, • said he could not understand the rural system. There yas no doubt that it would have been good when making the lay-out of the roads, but now it would onlymean “another board.”

A draft of the proposed regulations .concerning the issue of motor drivers’ licenses was received'. The chairman asked under what authority these regulations were set up. The clerk read a list of the various classes of drivers’ licenses which would be issued for lorries, cars, motor-cycles and side-cars, etc.r , » The chairjnan said that if they had some regulation for providing drivers with intelligence It would get over all their difficulties. The engineer referred to the dangers arising from motorists passing road repair works at high speeds. He had stopped one man who maintained that he was not travelling fast and said that the speaker must have h4d the “wind up.” The engineer confessed that he did have the “wind up.” The motor regulations, he said, specified that motor traffic should pull up when approaehing road works. Drivers often failed to realise that they were travelling too fast and that there were dangers to horses,, carts, tractors and workmen. The chairman considered that the engineer should have offenders prosecuted; it would save others, he said. It was. not the new drivers who were the trouble. The learners travelled slowly. It was the good drivers who were over-confident and thought they, knew all about it who were the worst offenders. ' Continuing, the chairman said that he thought the best method would bt» to periodically give a course of instruction to children concerning motor dangers. They would be the drivers of the future. A circular was received from the ■Eltham Borough Council outlining the Mayor’s proposals for land settlement and the relief of unemployment. The chairman said that while there were numerous difficulties there would be some benefit in relieving unemployment by settlement on land that would give some return. Mr. Buxton said that he had not a great deal of confidence in Government undertakings. There was a lot of land, however, that could be brought into use, and possibly the scheme could be improved upon. The communication was held over for further consideration. The tender of Mr. J. Parker for the supply of 450 yards of stone was accepted. , It was decided that all rates outstanding on December 22 would be sued for. 9 There were present Messrs. E. Long (chairman), T. A. Bridge, J. A.,Leslie, S. H. le Fleming, H. -H. Buxton and F. Mourie.