WIDTH OF TYRE BY-LAW

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2532, 19 June 1909, Page 2

WIDTH OF TYRE BY-LAW

DEPUTATION TO THE COUNTY

COUNCIL.

AMENDED MOTION CARRIED

A large deputation, headed by Mr W. D. Lysnar, with Messrs, G. Brocklebank, representing tlio- Employers’ Association, A. J. Cameron and G. Oxenbam, the Gisborne branch of the Farmers’ Uifion, and a number of carters. who are County ratepayers, waited upon the Cook' County Council yesterday to ask that the wide tyre bylaw, which has been advertised, be not confirmed. The by-law was a motion by Or. White; -who moved: “ That during the months of May r , June, July, August, and September, the County bylaw, No. 6, controlling heavy traffic be suspended, and that under the provisions of the Public Bodies Act, heavy traffic be prohibited on the County roads during those months.” The clause in the Public Works Act provides that where the local authority is of-* opinion that the carriage of any particular weight will cause serious injury to a road under- its control, the local authority may make a by-law forbidding such carriage or traffic unless the cost, as estimated by the local authority, of reinstating the road be previously paid to it. The Public Works Act also gives County Councils power to levy licenses upon vehicles or to collect tolls uponi heavy traffic pass in" over the County roads. At the last meeting of the Council- a committee was set up to report upon the best way to regulate the traffic. Mr Lysnar said the Farmers’ Union desired to ask the Council not to impose any hardship on carters and settlers in requiring the width of tyres on vehicles to be again altered. The farmers were quite in sympathy with the Council in trying to keep the roads in as good a condition as possible, and he hoped the Council would not alter the present by-law. It was rather a case of making the traffic suitable for the roads than the roads suitablo for the traffic. Mr A. J. Cameron expressed similar views. Mr. Oxenham said ho thought that a, six inch tyre was too wide for use, because the mud caked on the wheels and made it almost impossible for the horses to move the dray. It was not fair to ask carters to buy new wheels for their drays, Mr W. James said that wider tyres meant not only would carters have to buy new wheels, but also new axles, because the old axles would not carry wide tyred wheels. The Chairman said the object of the by-law was to protect the roads in the interests of the ratepayers. There was no intention to be unjust to any particular class of ratepayers. The result of the deputation would be that careful consideration would be given to what had been said when the by-law came before the Council for confirmation. He agreed that settlers should not be called upon to change the width of their tyres unless notice extending over some time was given. The question was again referred to in the. Engineer’s report, and Cr. Lysnar suggested that settlers should be pre vented from carting heavy mateml, such as timber, iron, and fencing cr.er the roads in the winter. If a settler wanted to fence or erect a house he could cart the material in the summer months instead of in the winter. Cr. Holden suggested that 'f settlers or storekeepers wished to cart goods- in the winter they should ] ay a rate or kind of toll for the damage likely to be done,' such a toll would encourage carting in summer months, and he was of opinion that such a toll could be legally imposed on such material as timber, stone, and fencing. Cr. Lysnar said lie would not absolutely prohibit* the carting of timber over country roads in winter, but the quantity of timber that could bo carted. A toll could be levied upon travelling stock with advantage, as stock did <n-eat damage to roads in winter. The Clerk said that after having placed the question before the County Solicitor, he had been advised that the most effective way to regulate heavy traffic during the winter montlis was to place a tax upon such vehicles as traction engines and heavy waggons. After the luncheon adjournment, Cr. White said he thought the Council might discuss the by-law with the powers of the Tyre Act. That could be done in committee. The Chairman said that the present-by-law could be amended so that the only difference would be that all vehicles drawn by three or more horses should have six inch tyres whether the vehicles were fitted with springs or not. Such was the opinion of the Committee that had considered the question. _ Cr. Sherratt asked if the Committee was unanimous. The Chairman said the members wero n °Cr. White thought that no hardship should be put upon the farmers, but there was certain traffic on the roads that should be controlled. Cr. Lysnar: Will the Council put new wheels on the vehicles with the licenses received ? Cr. White said it seemed to him that if the report of the Committee was adopted a hardship would be placed upon farmers, Cr. Matthews moved that the motion be not further discussed and be struck out. ‘ , , . Crs. Sherratt and White agreed to the suggestion, and the discussion closed. Cr'V Matthews gave notice to move at the next meeting of the Council: ‘ 1 That the by-law be amended to allow Is per cubic yard to be charged on ail road metal passing over the Coiinty roads and through the Patutahi riding and Gisborne riding. A few minutes afterwards Cr. VVmtc asked that his motion be reinstated so that the question could be discussed. The Chairman said the motion had not been moved, so that it could not be discussed. Ct. White: Well, .1 will move the motion now. . Cr. Lysnar said lie. would second the proposition conditionally tlmt* nil" lull roads were exempt from the -operations of the motion.

. Cr. j, Ate agreed to the amendment, which w to. the effect that the Council shoun.' ' ...e a by-law to regulate he:, i , upon the metalled roads on th-w ■*.. .A. hows said he would oppose y law providing for a six inch tyre. : ■ - \ ' - . -Cr. Lysnar said ho would like to .. . . hat a by-law be framed to regu- . o Lie i u. ig carried and that the b.v-’aw now in force be repealed. Cr Matt. u.ws said that no alteration should be made in the by-laws without careful consideration or without giving the ratepayers ample notice. He would like to see the discussion adjourned until the next meeting of the Council, so that his motion could be discussed at the sain-e time. The Chairman said that if the amended motion was carried the present by-law would still remain, but it would warn the ratepayers that some amendment of the by-law must come. The motion was then put and carried. Crs. Matthews and Sherratt voting against the proposition.