Planting trees and protection of existing planted trees Protecting trees from the earliest times was the Town Council of Bethal’s special attention. The minutes of 16 September 1915 shows evidence of this as application had to be made from the Council whenever a tree was to be removed. Permission was only granted to do so if circumstances necessitated it. Every budget of the Town Council and later Municipal Council, provided for the planting of trees. Bethal currently boasts approximately 4 000 trees. Licensing of vehicles All carts, whether drawn by horses, mules or donkeys had to be licensed from the earliest years. This rule was also applicable to motor vehicles from 1914. Due to increase in the use of motor vehicles, the Town Council decided in 1928 that a speed limit within the Council’s jurisdiction should be established. The first speed limit was set at 12 miles per hour (plus minus 19 km/h). It was especially during the last few years that registered vehicles rapidly increased in numbers. In 1968 for example, the number of vehicles was 7 963 and ten years later, in 1979 there was about 17 500 – an increase of 45 per cent. Significantly to note, is the number of fatal accidents in the municipal area: in 1978 two and in 1979 three! The 1927 Municipal Council 54
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