MOTOR REGISTRATION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14760, 2 September 1913, Page 4

MOTOR REGISTRATION.

ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES. An important point relating to tho certification «*>f motor drivers came beforo the City Council at the meeting last night. The By-laws Committee intimated that the motor inspector had reported to them ac follows: — "In view of the fact that other local authorities are -issuing motor drivers' certificates, and holders of same- are entitled to receive the Council's certificates without fee or test, I suggest ■ that our certificates, so issued, should have a distinctive mark worded, say: ■ 'Issued by virtue of Clauso 12 (4) of [ By-law No. 6 without fee.' It has corao to my knowledge that the motor inspector appointed for the County Council is now learning to drive a motor vehicle, and in doing so ran the car on to the footpath, smashed a j wheel, and ran into a verandah post." The committeo stated that several of j the County Council's certificates had been produced to the motor inspector with a view to obtaining the certificate required by tho Chrietchurch city bylaw. Tho 'committee had' written, to the chairman of the County Council asking to bo assured that the motor ! inspector was thoroughly competent to judge of the ability of drivers, and to examine them. If local authorities issued certificates without putting applicants through a proper test by a competent person, the committee intended tasking the Council to repeal that part of the by-law roferred to in the inspector's report. motors "Without rear lights. The committee also reported that Section 16 of "The Motor Regulation Act, 1908," read as follows:—"If a! motor is used upon a public road or street without being registered, or if the mark to be fixed in accordance with ,this Act is not so fixed, or if, being so fixed, it is in any way obscured, or rendered or allowed to become not easily distinguishable, whether by day or by night, the person driving the motor shall be guilty of an offence, unless, in the case of a prosecution for obscuring a mark or rendering or allowing it to become not easily distinguishable, ho proves that he had taken all steps reasonably practicable to prevent tho mark being obscured or rendered not easily distinguishable." As a number of motor-cars used in the city wero not provided with a rear lamp, the identification mark was not distinguishable at night, and the committeo recommended that prosecutions be instituted to enforce compliance with the section. The reports were adopted.