MOTOR TRAFFIC

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14362, 13 May 1920, Page 3

MOTOR TRAFFIC

THE TE AROHA CONFERENCE. WAIPA DKLECATK’S REPORT. Mr W. IF. Mandebo, county engineer, submitted (lie following - report on tin; recent conference at To Aroha between representatives of the several local bodies and the dairy companies concerning- mnlor traffic;— A conference of local bodies was held at Te Aroha -on Tuesday last at which representatives of the Piako, Obineninri and Waipa Counties, Ibe Kirikiriroa Road Board, Ibe \.Z. Dairy Company and Ibe Cambridge Dairy Company were present, ft was first suggested that Ibe meeting might take the new Malamala by-laws as a basis for discussion, but it was pointed oul Dial the special object for which the meeting had been called was to discuss the question of how to obtain an equitable contribution from motor traffic towards the upkeep of our roads, more particularly in connection will) the dairy business. It was then agreed to discuss the three following points—ft) Width of tyres in relation to the load carried and the limit of speed; f2) a fair license fee for all lorries: and (3) any special charge in connection with (iie dairying business. As regards the first question, width of tyres and speed, (lie meeting after long discussion, approved of the schedule given in Mr Coodfellow’s 'otter of- 2 ith March. The speed limit was slightly curtailed for heavier lorries, and (lie following agreed to: Up to 2.tons 12 miles per hour, up to 4 tons 10 miles, and over 4 tons 8 miles per hour. A long discussion, took place as to whether there is power existing at present to enforce fees_ and (lie meeting decided to obtain an’opinion from the solicitor to the Counties’ Association *on the point. Tiie opinion appeared to be held by many "of those present dial, provided by-laws tvere not, “unreasonable,” they would hold good in Court even ‘though there might be no such provisions >n the statute, and.indeed tins appears to lie the ground on which some by-laws have been framed, but of course the advice received by this Council is quite contrary to that idea. About this stage il was moved by Mr Allen, chairman of the Cambridge Dairy Go., and carried: “That the dairy companies recognise that they are entitled to paV a reasonable amount for the use of life roads, the contribution to be spent in making good Hie damage done.” It was also agreed that payment should he made la one local body only, and distributed to those concerned on a mileage-basis of roads carrying the traffic. The scale of fee to lie as follows: Gross weight, vehicle and load not exceeding 5 tons £3O per fcnnum. not exceeding 7 tons £lO, anil not exceeding 0 'ons £SO per annum. The suggestion that the industry as a whole should make a special contribution to road maintenance in tiie form of a levy on buttcrfal found no support. It was agreed to ask the local Parliamentary representatives to try and obtain necessary legislation giving to local bodies the necessary powers to control motor traffic. A long discussion ensued, several councillors contending that the roads should be maintained by a general rate over the whole area whilst others thought that taxation bn a butter-fat basis would be the more equitable. Boiti factions upheld their contentions with numerous arguments more or less convincing. It was generally admitted that more damage was done to Hie roads by the louring motorists, who’travelled at A greater speed than the milk lorries, which had wider lyres and travelled at a slow pace, eventually it was decided to await, (lie receipt of tiie report from the Piako County Council, when a specirfl meeting wilt tie held to go fully into the matter.