OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 2609, 13 April 1926, Page 7

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

DEVIATION OF MOTOR TRAFFIC ■ ' COUNTY COUNCIL ACTION. The action of Automobile Associations in encouraging motor traffic; to deviate from the beaten track and explore many side roads which happen to afford through. communication, was commented on by the county engineer, 'Mr MI E. Fitzgerald, at a meeting of the Mata mala County Council on Friday. Mr Fitzgerald stated that such a policy was having :a serious effect upon some of the side roads, and those responsible f did not seem to realise that whilst counties were putting forward special efforts to ina&atain- the arterial roads in a state to carry long distance traffic, the by-roads wore kept in order primarily for very essential local traffic and would seldom stand up.to the effects of sudden popularity with the .travelling public. .The county was ■finding considerable '.emus" of money to bring arterial roads up to the requirements of the travelling public, and as these roads Improve the traffic will further increase. If the [improvement t of ingress and egress (from the county is going to result in our little ‘■‘private ’’ roads being rained ;a wry serious state of affairs has to be 'considered.

Cr 8. H. vludd said lie backed up ivhat had been said by the engineer. A case in point was the. use being made of the Maimgatauta/i road Instead of going through Earajaro when travelling through from the Waikato to Tanranga, Tuupo and Rotorua. This had been done solely at the instigation of the Auckland Automobile Association, who had published reports recommending motorists to travel through Maungatautari and divert off the main arterial roads. 1 \ The council decided to write to the Auckland Automobile Association on the lines of the engineer’s remarks.