The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3632, 19 September 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 1912.

The suggestion of the Borough Engineer, that steps The Ouostion of should at once be Heavy Traffic. taken to adopt

suitable heavy traffic by-laws on the basis of a- maximum total weight per inch width or tyre, is one which we feel will meet with the hearty approval of most of the ratepayers. As was pointed out when the matter was under consideration by the ‘‘City Fathers” on Tuesday night the loads at present carried on many vehicles within the Borough are much in excess of what would be

permitted to bo carried on vehicles having tyres of similar width in other towns. It is, indeed, a wonder that effective steps in this direction were not taken before. Tho fact of the matter is, of course, that many of tho streets would to-day have been in a much more reasonable state of repair had the traffic upon them been regulated as regards weight of load to width of tyre. Especially is this the ease as far as Ivaiti is concerned, for in that suburb most, if not all, the streets lack a proper foundation. When a heavily-laden narrow-tyred vehicle breaks through the more or loss inadequate-protective crust on tho road the experience of the past winter has, owing to the scarcity of metal for maintenance purposes, been a series of ruts which, in time, have as is equally well-known, developed into serious dimensions. It will, no doubt, be contended in some quarters that such a by-law as is proposed should not be brought into operation without some appreciable delay, as it might involve considerable hardship on many business firms, etc - . \\ hilst it is unquestionably the position that the hurried adoption of a by-law of the kind would, in many instances, involve hardship it must, on the other hand, be generally recognised that tho sooner it is adopted the better it will bo for the borough roads. The civic authorities, it will have been noted, hope to have the matter put m { •, op'-r order before next winter. In this regard. they mUy, wo think, be trusted to da what is fair and just to all concerned. The general adoption of wide tyres, especially in towns which are not favored with a good supply of suitable metal, is widely advocated, it may be pointed out, by all competent- authorities. Firstly, the system is recommended because the particularly destructive action of narrow tyres is avoided, and secondly, on account of the increased loads'that can bo permitted with wide tyres und linearly all conditions. The rolling effect of broad tyres is admitted by all engineers, and it is also held that wide tyres have a. material advantage over narrow tyres in the matter of tractive resistance. That wide tyres preserve roads of all kinds from rutting is universally admitted. Where only weak metal is available in an v eminent authorities, indeed, contend that a six-inch tyre is the very least width that should be permitted in respect- of vehicles intended for heavy loading. As is well-known, some municipalities—especially is this the ease in the United -States even go the length of granting a rebate on taxation to those who adopt vehicles with wide tyres. The movement, as we have indicated, is undoubtedly in the right direction- and if the proposed new by-laws are rigidly enforced the result must be a substantial saving as regards the maintenance of ail roads within the Borough.