DAMAGE TO ROADWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1932, Page 5

DAMAGE TO ROADWAYS

CREAM CARTAGE SERVICES.

COUNTY COUNCIL CONCERNED. A large meeting of farmers and representatives of the dairy companies operating in the district was held at Te Awamutu on Monday afternoon to consider means of avoiding the overlapping, of cream cartage services which are doing much damage to county roads, especially by-roads and secondary highways. The chairman of the Waipa County Council, Mr. S. C. Macky, presided. All the speakers agreed that there was need for a better system. One speaker stated it was evident from the remarks made that the dairy companies would not unite to devise a practicable scheme, and the County Council could not force the issue unless it availed itself of recent legislation that permitted a local body to close certain roads to all heavy traffic, and then issued a license for a road to be used by only one vehicle. This vehicle would bring cream from all settlers on the road to a main road corner, for transport by heavier lorries to the factories in Te Awamutu. The following resolutions were carried: — (1) That'rationalisation of the dairying industry is the solution to the complaints of the county councils; (2) that every avenue should be explored to obtain that rationalisation, and legislative powers should be sought to eliminate, where possible, and prevent duplication by means of a license to build and operate plants; (3) that insistent advocacy of the principle that the user should pay for the use of the road and the derating of farm lands would materially prevent the misuse of reading facilities to county councils’ advantage; (4) that the organisation of roading facilities and planned routes would eliminate unnecessary road-wear.