WAIPA COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18929, 26 April 1933, Page 3

WAIPA COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING.

GENERAL business. TRANSPORT REGULATIONS. The monthly meeting of the Walpa County Council was held at Te Awamutu vvifierday, the chairman, Cr S. C. Macky, presiding. -Also present were Crs F. L. Onion, R. Speake, Q. S Clarke, J. T. Johnson, A. H. Storey, J. S. Fisher, N. Reid, E. F. Peaoooke, T. Church, A. Livingstone, Messrs J. W. Civil (engineer), and T. Grant (olerk). The chairman advised that application had been made to have the Tuhikaramea-'Whatawhata Road declared a main highway. He mentioned that a short length of road from the Whati-whati-hoe bridge on the Kawhla-Pirongia road to the junction with the Pirongla-Te Awamutu main highway had been gazetted a main highway.

Heavy Motor Trafflo. The fallowing reply was received from the Commissioner of Transport relative to heavy trafflo:—“ln regard to the heavy motor vehicle drawing a trailer I would point out that the regulations were primarily intended for the protection of road surfaces and with -this end in view the reduction of axle load was considered of the utmost importance. Under the regulations the maximum axle load allowed a trailer is 2.6 tons on a class 4 road as compared with 3.6 tons for an ordinary 2-axled motor vehicle so that by the use of trailers the axle load of class 4 roads is reduced by 1 ton. The heavy trafflo fees were levied principally to meet the additional costs of the heavier types of road surfaoes necessary to carry the larger and heavier truok-s and the petrol tax represents the contribution by the motor vehicle to maintenance costs of road surfaces. A 41 ton truck will do approximately 11 miles per gallon and, therefore, pays .91d per vehicle mile, while a- 41 truok drawing a 2-ton trailer will do only approximately 9 miles pep gallon and thus pays 1.1 Id per vehicle mile." The question of making it an offenoe for the owner of a heavy motor vehicle to display a olassifloatlon plate on a vehicle in respeot of which no -current heavy traffic license is held has been ncted for Inclusion In the next amendment to~ the regulations. It is considered that the proposal made by you Is desirable and would certainly assist the traffic Inspectors In the enforcement of the, regulations."

The clerk pointed out that a vehicle with a trailer paid a lower license fee than a multi-axle vehicle licensed to ■carry the same tonnage. He was instructed to bring the anomaly In the regulations to the notice of the Commissioner of Transport, The secretary of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce advised that his ohamber had arranged for a visit to Te Awamutu on Thursday evening, April 27, 6f the Commissioner of Transport. Councillors were Invited to attend the meeting.—The letter was received and Cr Johnson was appointed a delegate.

Engineer’s Report! A detailed report on repair and maintenance work carried out in the county during the month was presented by the engineer and adopted. It was -stated that unemployed relief men were working within the ebunty on farms, Robson’s Road, Chamberlain’s Road and on drains in the Mangapiko, Newcastle and Tuhilcaramea Ridings. Repairs had been partly carried out on the Mangapiko bridge. Upon the arrival of timber -ordered for the main repairs -the bridge would have to be -closed for a week or more while the work was being carried out In the Hamilton riding a contract had been let for excavating, carting aqd delivering of 1212 cubic yards -of gravel sand for £159 on the following roads: —Norton, Rotokauri, Elllcott's, Grande Vue,-Thomas’ and Lees' Roads. It was expected that formation work on 50 -chains of Robson’s Road in Tuhikaramea Riding would he completed this, week with unemployed labour under No. 5 Scheme. About 40 chains would have to be left unsanded as settlers Interested were unable to assist. Relief Donations. . The Minister of Employment requested that until further definite arrangements oould be made, county councils should co-operate with the district local bodies to receive, store, and hold until advised later regarding distribution, any produce or other goods donated to the Governor-Gen-eral’s relief funds with the exception of live-stock, which the freezing companies were being asked to accept. Cr Livingstone stated that the borough councils had bettor storing facilities than the county.

It was decided to reply that the council was prepared to assist to the best oifits .ability, but it had no storing facilities.