TRAFFIC RESTRICTED.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17285, 22 December 1927, Page 3

TRAFFIC RESTRICTED.

ON CHRISTMAS EVE. VICTORIA STREET CLOSED. HAMILTON BOROUGH'S DECISION. The placing of restrictions on motor traffic in Victoria Street was. discussed last night by the Hamilton Borough. Council, members of which held divided opinions on the same matter when it was before them twelve months ago. The Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow) moved that Victoria Street, from Hood Street to Ward Street, be closed to vehicular traffic on Christmas Eve betwee"h the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. His Worship added that he viewed the ' matter from the "safety first" standpoint. He was convinced' from reports that the action taken on similar lines last year was appreciated. Christmas Eve was the one night in the year when pedestrians should be allowed every latitude in that respect and observe ','Rafferty rules" if they wished on the streets. People should be allowed to take part in the gaiety without any element of danger being present. He did not consider the proposal to restrict the traffic would affect business. Christmas Eve was a gala night for families and young children, and should be regarded in this instance as such._ . Under the circumstances he believed in * the hedonism of the greatest amount of pleasure for the greatest number. It would entail no hardship on the motorist, and he felt he would not be doing his duty as Mayor if he did not make the suggestion to the Council. i Cr. J. Tidd endorsed the Mayor's remarks, and referred to the .dissension among councillors when the matter was debated twelve months ago. It was a real pleasure to shoppers to be unhampered by being able to move about without fear of the traffic. Cr. S. Tyler said he would record his dissent to the proposal. ' The majority of the business people were opposed to it. There was only space for the parking of a limited number. of cars in Victoria Street, and the others would have to go outside. Complaints had been made of the theft of articles from cars left in back streets last year. Cr. J. Gilbert said he approved of the Mayor's suggestion, but would; have to move an amendment that access be given to an Alma Street garage, which would otherwise suffer. Cr. C. LaiTerty said he supported ihe restriction 'of traffic last year, and he saw no reason for changing his opinion. If the argument-was used that only a number of cars would be able to park on the sides of Victoria Street and others would have to go elsewhere, why not all stop out? He believed the public would accept the Council's decision with approval if traffic restrictions were imposed. Cr. J. Denz considered the similar restrictions last year were a rank failure. He had not met a business man who considered \ : he action taken was satisfactory. Unrestricted use of the streets by vehicular traffic was allowed in the cities. The Mayor stated that the business people were not the majority. The fact that Hamilton was a one-street town accentuated the difficulty. No serious opposition was offered to similar action last year. Cr. Gilbert's amendment was lost, and the resolution moved by the Mayor to restrict the . traffic was carried. Those who voted for it were Crs. Lafferty, Bourne, Luxford, Farrell, Tidd, Field and the Mayor; while those dissenting were Crs. Day, Denz, Tyler and Gilbert.