ILLEGAL TRAFFIC

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 58, 9 March 1944, Page 4

ILLEGAL TRAFFIC

FIRST MOTOR CARS

FLUTTER IN PARLIAMENT

The flutter created in Parliament, as well as in other circles, by the introduction of motor cars into New Zealand nearly fifty years ago was one of several interesting and entertaining topics with which Mr. Justice O'Regan regaled the at the Catholic Men's Club luncheon to-day in the course of a breezy and intimate talk embodying some of his Parliamentary reminiscences.

"I had the honour of being a member of the House of Representatives in 1898, when the first legislation was passed authorising motor traffic in New Zealand," he said, in those far-off days there lived in Wellington a well-known citizen, iVlr. William McLean. He was a public-spirited man, and a strong supporter of the Premier, Mr. Seddon, and had been elected to represent the city of Wellington at a byelection in 1892. His opponent on that occasion was no less a person than Mr. H. D. Bell, afterwards better known as Sir Francis Bell. Mr. McLean had been on a trip to Europe, and in France lie first became acquainted with motor cars. With characteristic Scottish shrewdness he realised the potentialities of the motor car, two of which he purchased and brought with him to New Zealand. They were something very different from the modern motor car, in that they were on high wheels after the manner of buggies, and I am not sure if they were fitted with pneumatic tyres.

Hostility of "Cabbies"

"Well, after Mr. McLean had landed his cars and had paid £75 Customs duties, he was disappointed to find that there was no legal authority to—so he was advised when he applied to the Wellington City Council —to run his cars. "Many people will regard it as extraordinary, particularly as Mr. McLean was a personal friend of the Premier, Mr. Seddon, that a general bill was not introduced to authorise the running of motor cars. The probable explanation was that the general election was only a year off, and cabmen, who were very numerous, were very apprehensive about

Mr. Justice O'Regan

the introduction of motor cars. At 'any rate Mr. McLean was forced to the expedient of promoting a private bill to get authority to run his cars. This was read in "the House a first time in July, 1898, but did not become law until November 27 following. Originally introduced as the McLean Light Locomotives Bill, the title was altered by the Select Committee to which it was referred to the McLean Motor Car Bill, and from a bill authorising William McLean to run motor cars it was converted into virtually a general measure by the committee, which referred it back three times to the House. It became in effect a general bill. 1 am unable to say whether Mr. McLean obtained a refund of the expense he was put to in promoting a private bill, but he certainly was entitled to it.

Speed 12 Miles an Hour

"The bill provided that every motor car should carry a bell as well as a light. It also provided for a maximum speed of 12 miles an hour. Human nature came into the debate on the bill. In those days the four chief seats were triple constituencies. and the' three members for Wellington were Messrs. John Hutcheson, John Duthie and George Fisher. Mr. Hutcheson, the senior member for Wellington, had charge of the bill, and did his work well. Mr. Dutchie, of course, knew of the iriendship between Mr. McLean and Mr. Seddon, and so he had no difficulty when the bill was in Committee in discovering reasons based on the highest public spirit why he should support the measure. Mr. Fisher, to put it mildly, was not a friend of Mr. McLean, and he made the chamber resound with thunderings on what he described as the McLean Monopoly Enabling Bill. However, the bill, from a private bill, became virtually a public measure, and so motor traffic was authorised in New Zealand for all time.

"The most interesting speech in the debate was that made by Mr W H. Montgomery, representing Ellesmere. . Nobody knew very much about motor cars, but Mr. Montgomery had just returned from a trip to Europe, in which he had travelled in cars. He made a most spirited speech, in which he predicted that the horse would ultimately disappear from the highways and that motor traffic would be the traffic of the future. He warmly complimented Mr. McLean on his public spirit and enterprise. His speech convinced the House and in the division on the third reading the bill was carried by a large majority."