LORRY RESTRICTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 110, 12 May 1931, Page 6

LORRY RESTRICTIONS

j KILLING THE MONSTERS MOVE IN WANGANUI. At the request of th< Transport Department a conference is to be he;d in Wanganui in an endeavour to reach general classification fur the roa-J> within the No. 8 Highways District The Department pointed out that tho maximum gross loads allowed on a road had a most important bearing un its construction and maintenance cost* The Department considered that th* classification should be kept as low a: reasonably possible. If the conference were held the Department would prepare an economic survey to place before the meeting with the Government’s views on classification. Air T. Dix, (county engineer) said that he had been m conversation with an officer of the Department. Under the present circumstances it. was not an economic proposition to build roads to carry very heavy tiaffic. Speakin.' from memory, there were .1747 motor trucks and of them tiicie were only I? from eight to 10 tons. If those trucks were eliminated they would have liglc er traffic and they would be able to have lighter roads. It was a general view that a ten ton load required ten inches of metal, an eighr ton load eight inches of metal approximately According to the statement, it was not econo mie to build roads for 13 trucks only Such action would drive the heavy traffic. onto the railways. The same nrgr ment applied to bridges. From WeJ i lington to the end of the Rangitiku> County and also from Hawera to Wai tara the limit was eight tons. The district from Waitotara to Patea was standing out. Cr. F. H. Allen thought the matter could be well left with tho chairman (Mr W. Morrison) and the engineer to represent the county with power to act. It was greatly in the interests of the county. It, would he a good thing if the heavy goods were driven onto the railway. The people had to support the railways and tho railways had to pay. Cr. E. Parsons: Is this an excuse to •io away with the ten ton trucks? Air A. G. Goldsbury said he had in conversation with contractors and he thought that the heavy lorries were working themselves out. They were too big, clumsy and costly to run. Cr. Allan’s suggestion wa,s endorsed by the Council.