A MUNICIPAL TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT.
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An Example from New Zealand. Supreme Powers of Control.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, has a municipal traffic department, which is omnipotent in all affairs of traffic, even to the extent of regulating charges for all classes of vehicles.
The Traffic. Department has been established primarily for the due per
formance and efficient control of the duties entailed by the provisions contained in the City By-laws, " The Motor Regulation Act. 1908," the Lights on Vehicles Act, 1915," etc.
Whilst the organization of the-department dates from about 1894, its incep
tion may be said to date from 1878. In
this year it was controlled by the sanitary inspector, who embraced it as a part of his department. In 1894, the council realized the necessity for creating a traffic department to deal with the
control of traffic and the issuing of licences. A chief inspector was appointed and a separate department established. Since that time the importance of the department has greatly .
increased, owing to the advent of motor transit, which is large for a city of the population and size of Auckland, and to the extension of the boundaries of the city.
The department's ramifications include the general control of traffic, regis tration of motor vehicles, and the issu ing and control of the following licences: Taxi and omnibus, heavy traffic (motor
and horse vehicles), horse carriages, drivers (motor and horse), conductors, etc. The council exercises a close scrutiny of all licences, and any delinquents are promptly dealt. with.
Licensed motorcar fares are arranged tinder two headings—(a) by distance, and (b) by time. Each is optional with the hirer :— i340 BY DISTANCE. s. d.
Minimum fare for 1 mile for 1 or 2 passengers ... ... 2 6 For every additional passenger.
beyond 2 •-1 For every additional mile or frac
tion thereof for 1 to 4 passen gers For every additional passenger r
1 3
above 4, per mile ... 0 3 The charge by distance shall not include the return of the car to the stand. BY TIME.
s. d.
For up to 4 passengers at per
hour, including return to stand 15 0 For each additional passenger,
. per hour 2 6 Detention for every 5 minutes or fraction thereof ... 0 6 From midnight to 6 o'clock a.m, there is a 50 per cent, increase on the foregoing amounts.
The time of departure of omnibuses from their respective stands to places on their respective routes is regulated by time-tables approved and controlled by this department. The scale of fares is 3d. per mile or fraction thereof for each passenger.
Vehicles that ply for hire and are used for commercial purposes come under the category of " Heavy Traffic," for which an annual licence is issued on application.
FARES EY DISTANCE.
Motors and horse-drawn vans used commercially operate under the following schedule of rates:—
s. d.
For any quantity of goods or portable package not exceeding 8 cwt., the distance being a mile or under on the level—
(a) By horse-drawn van ,... 0 3 6
(b) By motorvan 0 3 6 For . any quantity of goods exceeding 8 cwt. and not exceeding 1 ton, the distance being a mile or under on the level—
(a) By horse-drawn van ... 0 6 6 (h) By motorvan 0 6 6
For any further or other dis
tanee than one mile on the level, the fare to be charged by time.
For 1 horse van, at pee hour 0 5 6
2 „ 0 B 0
2 horse furniture van ,, 0 9 0 each additional horse, at
per hour 0 2 6 For tnotorvans, at per boor
I--7P to-ton carrying capacity 0 10 0 Over ton, but not exceeding 1
ton ... ...012 6 Over 1 ton, but not exceeding 0 15 0
Over 2 tons, but not exceeding Over 3 tofus 1 0 0
1 '2 6
The employer has the option of hiring by time or distance, except for the reMoral of furniture, which is always paid for by time, the carter being bound to use all reasonable expedition.
The rapid growth of mechanical road transport in the city during recent years is shown by the fact that the registration numbers are now well on the 10.000 mark.