Traction Engine Owners' Association.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 7024, 12 November 1906, Page 2

Traction Engine Owners' Association.

The annual meeting of the Now Zealand Traotion Engine Importers' and Owners' Association was held on Friday evening, m Christchurch, when Mr J. Maopherson, M.H.R., presided. The annual report stated, inter alia, that the Association had obtained an important amendment to the Public Works Aot m September, 1905. Several law cases against traction engine owuers were mentioned, which the Association had undertaken or m which it had given assistance. A petition drafted by the Association had recently been presented to Parliament praying the Government to undertake the regulation of the traffic by legislation, as is the case m England, any additional provisions to suit special local conditions being the subject of regulations to be made by the Governor-in-Counoil; and alternatively, the enactment by the Legislature of a model by law for adoption by loual and municipal authorities, power being taken to make provision for speoial local conditions by regulations as before mentioned. Also that extraordinary traffic be clearly defined as against ordinary traffic m a district, so that what at one time might be deemed to be extraordinary traffic might after the lapse of a certain term of years during which such traffic had been more or leas continuous, become only ordinary traffic io that district. Uniformity had been asked for with regard to license fees, and a registration fee only, for mill-owners. The Public Petitions Committee had reoommended these matters to the favourable consideration of the Government, who would probably deal with them m a Bill next session. The balance-sheet was considered satisfactory, and the report and balance-sheet were adopted. It was decided to increase the powers of the Executive Committee, so that they may, if thought desirable, accept, on behalf of the Association, agencies for Accident and Fire Insuranc?, with a view to conserving the interests of Traotion Engine and Mill Owners generally, and effecting a saving to them on the rates of Insurance. In Rule 3, clause E, the following words were added after the word litigation " or m any Conciliation or Arbitration Court proceedings."