SPEED LIMITS

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 30 June 1924, Page 8

SPEED LIMITS

DEPUTATION TO TEMTEA BOROUGH COLNLIE. A special meeting of the Boromdi Council was held on batul |j‘; evening to meet a deputation rep£-sentat-ves ot tho Cantoibuij, Gtago, and South Canterbury Automobile Associations. Maj ox (-VT. Guumon), and Council i xj•mco'c Evans, G. B. Cartwright G Hanco , E. Booth, J. B. Sinclair, J. Bums, A. 11. Fenn, and L. Robins. The Mayor extended a heart} u<-U come to the deputation, at the samo time drawing attention to made by members of the Otago A - mobile Association, which he considered unfair and not founded on fact. Jtreport of that meeting had been pr lislied throughout tho south Iblan “’ but he did not wish to attach any blame to the members ot the Reputation, as ho, with tho Council, was pleased to meet them and to iieai their views of the by-laws. Mr Ancell (Dunedin) acknowledged the welcome, and said the representatives of the Association appreciated the opportunity given them to meet tho Council. He had found local bodies reasonable and \\illin_ t see the other side of the fence. Tho Motor Associations wanton reason* speed limits, aud would not tolerate “motor hogs.” They were greatly against reckless driving. Iho Association tried to regulate traffic and uitli this object in view had urged the passing of an Act which would provide revenue for maintaining the roads and at the same time make provision tor cancelling a driver’s license should he ho oonvictccP of careless or negligent driving. Some drivers should not he allowed on tho road, ns they wore dangerous to motorists and pedestrians, but at present an offender can be fined and mav do the same thing next day. Under tho new Act-, which would be ... ’ niitted to Parliament this session, a license would bo cancelled on conviction. Tho Association tried earnestly to suppress abuse of tho roads. Regarding speed limits they regarded tho limit of 10 miles through boroughs and six inilos over crossings unreasonable. Ten miles speed was a very slow pace, and six miles was unsafe, as the driver then had no steering control. It was difficult to change gear when travelling at six miles. Accidents could be averted when travelling at 15 miles hotter than they could if travelling at tho present limit. Every motorist would support tho enforcement of the by-laws, provided they were reasonable. He would recommend that the by-laws be amended, and a speed limit of '5 miles over crossings and 20 through the borough be adopted. It would be safo travelling generally at 20 miles, though this would at times bo dangerous. Provision was, however, mado in tho Police Offence Act for- dealing with such cases, which would arise when there would be some special attractim in Temuka. The latter Act provided that motorists shall not drive to the danger of the public, and could bo applied at all times irrespective of Die by-laws, so he thought the Council would bo well advised to make their by-laws with a 20 mile limit. England had struck out speed limits, and in tho Dominion there was a tendency to roly on the Police Offences Act, a

more satisfactory than unreosonnhl speed limits. Twenty miles was a safe limit, and Motor Associations would do their best to keep tho roads safe Tho Otago Association had rcpeate-.lly warned motorists for reckless driving, although the offenders had never been caught by the police or borough inspector.*! Beprosontations had been mado to the West Harbour and Portobello Boad Boards, and to tho Ashburton Countv Council, especially in icgard to the speed limit ; of the Ashburton bridge in the latter county, and they had been successful in getting he speed limit raised. Mr E. A. Scott of the South Canterbury Association said the motorists were amenable to by-laws and wore very careful, excepting “road hogs,” but the by-laws should bo reasonable. In Timaru tho limit was six miles, and recently a gentleman from Oamaru, who was known there as the slowest driver in the district, visited England, and while there he was repeatcdlv tod to speed up. On coming back ho* passed through Timaru and was prosecuted for excessive speeding, chiefly because he laid a foreign- number on His car. Os a recent occasion lie (the speaker) had taken a note of speeds in Timaru. aud-tho only driver that did not break th.e by-law was in a gig going uphill. Air Passmore (Dunedin), also Mossiv. 1 fawko and McCarthy (Christchurch) also spoke. In reply to questions members of the deputation said that the present limits in Dunedin. Christchurch, and Timaru were six miles.

Councillor Cartwright asked if it, was the intention of the Automobile Association to wait on ail other local bodies in thei South Island. In reply lie was told that the Associations were continually waiting on Citv Councils in connection with b.v-laws,' where they were considered unreasonable. .After tlie deputation had withdrawn, Councillor Booth moved. Councillor I!uncox seconded, and it was carried—‘‘That the question of by-laws lie not considered I ill tlm cn-.es now before the Police Court are disposed of.” His. 1\ orship all.'awards entertaine I the visitors at supper.