THE HEAVY TRAFFIC BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2309, 30 September 1908, Page 1

THE HEAVY TRAFFIC BILL.

AMENDMENT TO REMEDY A GRIEVANCE.

[Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. This Bill, which tho Government hopes to pass before the sessions ends, defines heavy traffic as follows:—(A) The transportation of any voliicle, which itself, or together with its load, weighs more than ono and a half tons to each pair of wheels. (B) Tho traction of any vehicle by means of bullocks, (C) tho transportion, during tlio montlis from May to September (inclusive), of any vehicle, with or without any load thereon, which requires more than six animals at a time to draw it along any road. Clause 4 provides that in the case of the Government roads aiuL bridges, tlio Minister is to have tho powers of a local authority. Clause 5 provides that in cases where a vehicle is to bo used in two or moro districts, the liccnso is to bo issued by the Government and the procedure is as follows. (1) Where tho owner of a voliicle engaged in heavy traffic desires to use that vehicle in two.or moro districts, "iiT'ivliTeli Part II of this Act as in force, whether wholly or partially, lie may lodgo an application ul writing at a Magistrate’s Court within- ono of these districts (and if there is no such court within such district, then in tho Court adjacent thereto), for a liccnso to use that vehicle within such districts, and upon such roads as aro specified in the application, aiid such application shall contain the same particulars as are required in applications to bo made under section seven hereof, and tho owner shall serve a copy of his .application to the local authorities of each district to which liis application relates, and in the caso of a Government road, it shall bo served on tho Minister. (2) Tho Magistrate shall hereupon, without fee, summon the local authorities of tho districts specified in tho application to bo represented before him, at tlio timo and place which lie shall appoint, and may proceed with tho application whether the local authorities are represented at the hearing or not if he is satisfied that they have received: notice of the application. (3) After hearing any evidence or statement, which the applicant or such representatives think fit to adduce or make, the magistrate shall decide whether or not the application is to ho granted, and what license fee is to be paid, and ho shall accordingly issue the license on payment to him of such license foe, or may issue the license subject to such conditions as he may think fit, or he may refuse the application. The fees are to ho apportioned amongst tho local bodies by tlio magistrate, and there are penalties for offences. Part 11. which relates to the licensing of vehicles, states that the owner of a vehicle, before using the same for heavy traffic, shall apply to the local authority for a license, giving the weight and description of the vehicle, the roads upon which it is to be used, and the weight intended to carry. The local authority is entitled to consider whether the road, bridges, and culverts, to which the application relates, are sufficiently strong to stand the traffic, and grant the license subject to certain specified conditions. It may, for instance, grant the license subject to its being suspended in wet weather, or being limited to certain months in the year, and if it is thought fit, security for likely damage to roads may bo demanded b- tho local authority. Local authorities are entitled to charge certain fees, and issue licenses for a fixed dorm or for a fixed sum for each time the vehicle uses the road. Every vehicle used for heavy traffic must bp licensed and drivers must have the licenses in their immediate personal possession. Tho issue of licenses docs not release tlio Lcensoo from liability for damage to roads, and drivers aro to avoid driving in ruts in a. road. Bullocks are not to bo used for heavy traffic work during May, Juno. July, August-, and September without permission of the local authority. Tho Bill also contains strict provisions for tho regulation of engine traffic and license fees are fixed as follows :—2-wlieeled vehicles, tyres 2] inch wide and under 3 inches, £lO yoarly; same 3 inches wide and under 4 inches, £7 10s; satno 4 inch tyres and not exceeding 5 inches, £5. 4-AVlieelcd vehicles, tyres 2j inch wide and under 3 inch, £2O yearly; samo 3 inch wide and under 4.inches, £ls; same with tyros 4 indie wide and under 6 inches; £lO. The second schedule to the Bill gives an estimate of the bulk weight of certain goods, and the third schedule sets out tho maximum load that any vehicle may carry as follows: 4-AVheeled vehicles with tyres 2j inches, maximum load 3 tons; 3in tyros, 3) tons; 3jin, 4 tons; 4in, 4j- tons; 4in, 5 tons; sin, 5] tous; sjin, G tons; 6in, 6j tons; 6jin, 7 tons; 7in, 7] tons; Sin, 8] tons; 9in 9j tons. 2-whcoled vehicles, 2]in, 1] tons; Sin, l'i tons; 3jin, 2 tons; 4in, 2Jtons; 4jiii, 2j tons; Gin, 2J tons; sjin, 3 tons; din, 3j- tons. No vehicle having tyres less than 2jin shall carry any greater load than half a ton, and tho weight of traction engines is limited to 25 tons unless specially authorised.