HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15886, 26 July 1923, Page 5

HEAVY TRAFFIC.

o v RECENT CONFERENCE. RESOLUTIONS PASSED. A conference of local bodies was held at Paeroa on July 20th., 1923, consisting of representatives of the Thames Borough, Thames County, Ohinemuri County, Piako County, Hauraki Plains 'County, Waihi Borough, Te Aroha Borough, and Paeroa Borough, to go into the matter of heavy traffic by-laws. The following resolutions were passed, and resolutions numbers 7,8, 9 and 11 are being forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Hon. Minister of Public Works: — LICENSE FEE.

Moved by Mr Marshall (Paeroa), and seconded by Mr Wallnut (Waihi.) That it be a recommendation to the councils represented at the conference: “That the license fee for motor vehicles engaged in heavy traffic in boroughs shall be £1 for each ton or part of a ton of the weight and carrying capacity o'f the vehicle up to 7 tons; above 7 tons including weight of vehicle to be absolutely prohibited except by special permit, the applicant for such permit to provide indemnity against possible damage. If it is not pos- s sible to prohibit loads over 7 tons the fees for same to be £4 per ton. That the County charges be three times the above amount.” —Carried unanimously. (N.B. —The Hauraki Plains representatives disassociated themselves because the weight limit of 7 tons was, in their opinion, double the load the Plains roads could carry). Moved by Mr Marshall (tPaeroa). Seconded by Mr Coulter (Te Aroha). That it be a recommendation to the councils re-: presented: “That composite licenses be arranged for between any two or more local bodies contiguous to one or the other, computed by adding together the license fee of each district and deducting 20 per cent., and distribution made so that each local body receives 20 per cent, less than its full license fee.” —Carried unanimously. (Hauraki Plains representatives again disassociating). SPEED LIMIT. Moved by Mr Coulter (Te Aroha); seconded by Mr Johnstone (Ohinemuri County). That it be a recommendation to the councils represented: “That the speed limit for all heavy traffic be 10 miles per hour.” ■—Carried unanimously. TYRES. Moved by Mr Marshall (Paeroa); seconded by Mr Lowe (Thames County)., That it be a recommendation to the councils represented: “That the minimum width of tyres of all wheels of any cart, dray, waggon, coach or other vehicle (whether plying for hire or not) be regulated in proportion to the number of wheels, and the weight of the vehicle with the load thereon, according to the following schedule: —

HORSE VEHICLES.

Moved by Mr Marshall (Paeroa); seconded by Mr Lowe (Thames County.) That it be a recommendation to the councils represented: “That the scale of charges for horse-drawn vehicles be half those already agreed on for motor vehicles with the same conditions, the maximum load and fee for each vehicle to be computed according to the load allowed on a given size of tyre in the schedule regulating same.” — Carried. (Te Aroha Borough, Piako County and Hauraki Plains abstaining from voting). DURATION OF LICENSE. Moved by Mr Marshall (Paeroa); seconded by Mr Hetherington (Thames.! That it be a recommendation to the councils represented: “That every license shall be for a period of one year from date of issue, provided always that a license may be applied for and in that ease shall be issued for any period less than a year (being a month or some number of months) on payment of such a part of the yearly license fee herein provided as is found to be due, taking the proportion in which the time to be covered bv the license stands to one year.”—Carried unanimously. WEIGHT OF LOADS. Moved by Mr Marshall (Paeroa); seconded by Mr Johnstone (Ohinemuri'County.) “That in view of the fact that the roads of the district are incapable of carrying loads in excess of 7 tons, this conference

asks for definite statutory powers to prohibit heavy traffic in excess of 7 tons, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works.” —Carried. (Hauraki Plains abstaining from voting because the weight limit was too heavy for their roads.) Moved by Mr Marshall (Paeroa) ; seconded by Mr Johnstone (Ohinemuri County) : “That we ask for power to prohibit by resolution on certain secondary streets or roads heavy traffic of over 4 tons, except by special permit, applicant for such permit to provide indemnity against possible damage.”—* Carried. (This request to be sent forward to the Prime Minister and Minister for Public Works). UNIFORM RATE.’

Moved by Mr Johnstone (Ohinemuri County) ; seconded by Mr Lowe (Thames County) : “That this conference ask for statutory power for all local bodies to make by-laws licensing all vehicular traffic, and that a uniform rate for motor cars be fixed by the Government, and that this request be forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works.” —Carried. HIGHWAYS COUNCIL.

Moved by Mr Marshall (Paeroa); seconded by Mr Robinson (Ohinemuri County) : “That, in the opinion of this conference the highways group for this district should consist of Cormandel, Thames, Hauraki Plains, Ohinemuri, Piako and Matamata Counties.” —Carried (Piako County abstaining from voting). Moved by Mr Lowe (Thames County) ; seconded by Mr Coulter (Te Aroba) : “That in the opinion of this conference the boroughs should have representation on the Highways Council.”—'Carried mup -uslv.

Maximum Weight of Tyres 2-wheeled 4-wheeled Inches Vehicle Vehicle. cw't. ewt. 2 15 25 21 25 40 3 30 48 3i 35 56 4 40 64 u 45 76 5 60 90 51 70 105 6 80 140 ■Carried unanimously.