Town looks to set up traffic department

Piako Post celebrates its 40th birthday this year. We look back to remember some of the big issues, serious and humourous reported over the year for our

series.

Could Morrinsville set up its own traffic department to police violations of laws in the borough?

That was the question readers were asked to consider by editor Dennis Trotter in his lead story of the Piako Post on February 22, 1978.

It was reported that mayor of the time, C.E Wiseley, had the support of councillors to send a letter to the Minister of Transport requesting information on how a local traffic department could be set up in the rural Waikato town.

The move was prompted following ‘‘a long period of frustration’’ for the council in its efforts to secure services of an additional traffic officer for Morrinsville.

‘‘Following the most recent request to the department, the Minister of Transport advised that although he appreciated the council’s concern in the matter, it was unlikely that additional staff will be appointed this year,’’ the story said.

The minister outlined the problems his department was experiencing at the time. He planned to speak with the traffic superintendent in Hamilton to consider ‘‘ways and means’’ of providing wider coverage for the borough of Morrinsville.

But the mayor’s letter to the minister said the council would have to consider setting up its own traffic department, if the ministry was not going to help.

‘‘While obviously not as satisfactory as enforcement by the ministry, it appears to be the only alternative available to ensure adequate coverage of the borough,’’ the mayor’s letter said.

It concluded by requesting information on establishing a local traffic department with an offer to supply the minister with any further details of the council’s intention.

The story said such a move by Morrinsville ‘‘is fairly big time’’ considering that large cities, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton, did not have such luxuries. Auckland, Napier, Lower Hutt and Invercargill had their own traffic departments at the time.

The article ended with Trotter asking whether the mayor was serious about his bid to set up a traffic department.

‘‘Perhaps it is just a way of applying a little pressure on the traffic bosses in a bid for more action,’’ the story concluded.

Stories on the fire service, community services and ‘the tip’, as well as traffic departments were top issues during the late 1970s.