Discussions

In 1947 city council was having trouble with down town parking. As a means of solving this trouble they decided to institute metered parking for a one-year trial.  
 
Two hundred standards were ordered, and installed along Rosser Avenue from Sixth Street to Eleventh Street, and between Pacific and Princess Avenues on Ninth and Tenth Streets.  
 
The meters came into service on Friday August First as well as an Order that only Parallel Parking would be permitted anywhere in Brandon.  
 
On that day the downtown streets were almost barren. Motorists had shunned the metered areas, but other thoroughfares were fairly well filled with automobiles.  
 
Two weeks later the first collection from the parking standards totalled about two hundred dollars, plus some miscellaneous slugs, metal washers, and meat tokens.  
 
The authorities felt it necessary to warn Parkers that if anything other than coins were used it would mean prosecution to offenders.  
 
Alderman McDowell foresaw the currency collecting agencies aiding corporate finances, but Alderman Kirkcaldy pointed out that the meters were meant to discourage people from parking their vehicles in the same location for nine hours per day.  
 
An enthusiastic Alderman Webb thought the timing devices should be installed along Princess Avenue together with others between that thorough way, and Pacific Avenue on Sixth Street, Seventh or Eighth Streets.  
 
Note #1: There was free parking down town available Saturday nights, half-holiday afternoons, ‘days of diversion’, and the Sabbath.  
 
Note #2: Last week city authorities received complaints that the meters in use today are two high for centimetre challenged people to read the instructions.  
 
Source: Brandon a City by G. F. Barker