HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21303, 23 December 1940, Page 6

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

NOT EQUAL TO LAST YEAR FEWER LONG TOURS EFFECT OF RESTRICTIONS An observer in Victoria Street North, with plenty of time on his hands, has been interestedly watching motor traffic. His comment was that obvious holiday traffic has, so far this season, been somewhat below that of last season, due in large part to the petrol restrictions. On his figures, there were just as many holiday motorists travelling north as there were bound southward. Many of the latter would, of course, be turning eastward on leaving Hamilton, seeking pleasure and peace on the beaches of the Bay of Plenty, or in and around Rotorua; or to the westward, to the seaside at Raglan or Kawhia. Another man, connected with the motor trade, gave the opinion that holiday trips this holiday season would be shorter than those of a year ago. People from the Waikato would not be tripping off to North Auckland or the Wellington Province, while he had not met one car owner who was going to tour the South Island. With this concentration of . motorists on short tours there would be congestion and difficulty in getting accommodation at many of the more popular holiday resorts. Accommodation Taxed The various branch offices and agencies of the Automobile Association (Auckland) have been exceedingly busy advising members, and in some cases diverting them from planned objectives after obtaining advice that the accommodation desired was not obtainable. Patrol officers have reported that most of the roads likely to be used by holiday motorists are in very good order, and unless heavy rain occurs no difficulty is likely to be experienced. Some concern has been expressed by patrol officers of the association about the repair Work on certain highways, and motorists are cautioned to exercise extreme care when negotiating sections where tar-sealing is in progress. It is the practice of the authorities to spray the entire surface with a wet, tarry substance, concerning which the association has received many complaints. This is a preliminary coating which must be allowed to penetrate into the surface, but the association has repeatedly made representations that half the road width should be done at a time. Motorists are advised that, on such a surface under treatment, it is necessary to engage low gear and travel at not more than five miles an hour, to avoid the car being splashed.