UNWANTED WATER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 301, 1 October 1938, Page 5

UNWANTED WATER

MAY LEAD TO TROUBLE. EASILY GETS IN TANKS. Calling at a filling station the other day I saw a car being replenished with fuel and immediately behind it another having the radiator filled from the water tower. The attendant, filling the petrol tank, walked round to park the hose before replacing the filter cap (writes “Visor” in the “Austin Magazine”). Meanwhile, the other attendant, having filled the radiator of the car behind, swung round with the hose and a good spray of water fell periously near the petrol tank filler. Such a combination of circumstances is not likely to recur for many months or even years of driving, but I made a note of its possibility, for I have had experience of water in the petrol, and I know to what elusive trouble it may lead. Even a. few drops may cause intermittent —exasperatingly intermitent —engine spluttering, and sometimes entire stoppage. 1 nave known cases where the trouble has recurred; after long intervals. One never knows when one has finally gor rid of the water which floats about in blobs at the bottom of the tank, and a blob now; and then going up to the pump and into the carburetter, to which the engine objects, seeing that it likes to take its spirit neat. I am always very cautious with water and when I wash the car I take particular care not- to direct the jet anywhere near the filler cap. Water in tlie petrol has somewhat the effect of erratic ignition. Actually it causes partial and spasmodic stoppage of the carburetter jets. Examination of the float chamber, without removing the petrol therein, will usually reveal whether water is at fault in the event of the power output becoming hesitant. STRAYING CATTLE. A GROWING MENACE. From one end of the Dominion to the other, though some localities are worse than others, the danger of stray ing stock in an ever-present night-time menace of the motorist in the country districts. Ever since the early days of motoring when the iong paddock was attractive to stock-owners the straying stock nuisance has been a real one. The danger nowadays has been accentuated by the speed and number of the modern motor-vehicle, and the Minister of Transport and the Transport Deparments might well give their earnest atention to mitigation of the risk confronting drivers (says “(The New Zealand Motor World”). A fixoo unlighted object on a highway could cause immediate complaint and call 'for similar remedy, hut stock at nighttime on a highway represents nil lighted, moving objects and the hazard is increased. In these days of improved road surfaces and other aids to safe, quick road transport the motorists are not unreasonable in expecting unimpeded progress under ordinary conditions. Untended stock is a danger on the roads, and if stock-owners do not think so, it is time that they were impressed with a greater sense of , responsibility. It is curious to reflect that a stock-owner may recover damages from a motorist for injury done to stock wandering on the -highway, hut, when the motorist seeks redress for damages done to his vehicle in collision with stock he must prove that the stock-owner was negligent in failing to confine his stock in an enclosure. The fact that stock is abroad untended is not evidence, ipso facto, of negligence on the owner’s part. How long have road-users to keep asking successive Governments, Ministers of Transport, and local bodies, to take an effective action in making it scarcely worthwhile for stock-owners to disregard their obvious duty? NIGHT-DRIVING DANGER. CURE OF EVIL. One of the greatest inconveniences of night driving, and an inconvenience which can be positively dangerous, is to have the headlights of a, following ear playing through the rear window on to the inside of the windscreen. The dazzling effect prevents the driver from seeing the road ahead just as much as would the over-bright- headlamps of an approaching car. The simplest cure is to lower the rear blind, covering the rear window completely. While these blinds were practically universal a. year or two ago, some of tiie most prominent makes unfortunately are now being marketed without them. Any motorist who purchases such a car and really wants to enjoy comfort on the roads at night time, should issue instructions that such a blind should be fitted before he takes delivery. It is well worth the small extra expense involved. If at all possible, the blind should be fitted in the style so sensibly favoured by English makers. It is actually fitted below the window and a. cord running from it passes through conveniently placed eyelets round the right-hand side of the roof and its looped end is slipped over a. peg just above the driver’s door. Another peg is placed a little further forward so that tlie loop can be slipped over it when the blind is pulled up to cover the window. This idea makes it unnecessary to stop the car to raise the blind when the car is being driven without passengers.

VERY EXHAUSTIVE. OR EXHAUSTING? New Zealand is perhaps less forward, or backward —it depends on your point of view—than many motorists are inclined to suppose. Take the matter of driver’s licence, and compare it with Brazil. Here is Brazil’s procedure, as described by Mr J. B. Crossley, president of the Automobile Club of New York:— “The applicant must set aside a month or two and prepare to cut much red tape. Elven if lie is an experienced driver he is urged to attend a driving school where the exact test to be required is taught. Then he must obtain a card of identity. This involves documents notarised; fingerprinting and photographing anil return lor certificate showing he has no criminal record. Next he must get a certificate from his doctor showing that lie does not suffer from fits. Lie must be vaccinated and must get. written permission for an eyesight test, take this to the Treasury and pay the fees due, and then go to the municipal doctor for the eye test and general medical examination. Now comes a certificate I'rom his local police station verifying his home address, after which he arranges for and takes the driving test. If he passes, the certificate must be taken to the traffic police to obtain a provisional licence identification card, car licence, certificate of ownership of the car, and the owner’s written permission to drive the car, or, if self-owned the owner writes himself a letter giving such permission. Another photograph is taken and the affair is wound up with a reading test.” The licence costs about £G.