MOTOR VEHICLES BILL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18150, 13 August 1924, Page 8

MOTOR VEHICLES BILL.

INTRODUCED IN HOUSE. PROVISIONS OF THE MEASURE. (special to "the peess.") WELLINGTON, August 12.

The piotor Vehicles Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. Under the existing system the registration of motor vehicles is effected by certain borough councils, namely, those whose districts have a population of over 5000, and by county councils. For this system of registration the Bill proposes to substitute registration by officers of the Public Service. The work will be undertaken by officers of the Post and Telegraph Department, and will not necessitate the establishment of another department of State. The more important clauses of the Bill include provision for annual licensing for the purposes of registration. The division of New Zealand into provincial districts is made use of. For each provincial district it is proposed to appoint such a number of deputy-registrars as may be necessary, who will keep local registers of the vehicles registered by them. In addition there will be a central register, to bo kept in Wellington, and to be compiled hy the registrar from particulars furnished by the several deputy-regis-trars. Registration is not required to be .renewed, but particulars must be furnished as to any change of garage or of ownership, for noting in tho local and central registers. Save in exceptional cases it is an offence to use an unregistered motor vehicle. The proposed penalty is a fine of £2O for every day on which an unregistered vehicle is used. A period of one month is allowed in which to effect the registration of vehicles in use at the ipommencement of the Act, but during'this period every vehicle must carry its registration number under the Motor Regulation Act, 1908. Special provisions for exemption from the necessity of registration are made with respect to vehicles held by dealers for purposes of sale only. On payment of the prescribed fee a dealer may obtain any number of identification plates for use on vehicles while being tested or exhibited, or otherwise used prior to sale.

Funds for Highways. In addition to the requirement of registration, the Bill .requires that every motor vehicle shall be, licensed annually. Annual licensing is to be effected by the several deputy-registrars on payment of the appropriate license fee as set out in the schedule to the Bill The main purpose of the annual license is to provide funds for maintenance expenditure on main highways. The licensing of motor drivers istett as at present to local authorities, but is made compulsory. No person under the age of fifteen years is competent to receive a driver's license. The Gover-nor-General may prescribe, the qualiiicaiions to be possessed by applicants forfdrivers' licenses, and may make provision for different classes of licenses and for a different standard ot qualification for the several classes, in the absence of such regulations the matter of qualification is left to the discretion of the particular local atithoritv concerned. Provision is made for the cancellation of drivers' licenses, or for their endorsement or suspension, by Court of Justice in cases where the holders have shown that they are not fit persons to have charge of a motor vehicle. Drivers' licenses remain operative «jnly until March 31st succeeding the d!ate of issue. .

Ml fees for drivers' licenses are payable to the general funds' of the licensing local authorities. Other fees payable under the Act, such as registration and annual license fees', and all fines recovered in respect of offences are made payable to the revenue fund of the Main Highways Account, where thev are available for the maintenance (but not for the construction) of main highways.

Penalties for RecHaa Driving. It is an offence, punishable on summary conviction, for any person to be in charge of a motor vehicle while in a state of intoxication, and any such person mav be arrested without warrant. It is also ah offence, punishable summarily, to drive a motor vehicle so negligently or recklessly as to endanger the safety of the public, or of any person. If any person, while in a state of intoxication, or by reason of reckless or negligent driving, causes bodily injury to or the death of any other' person, he is guilty of a crime, ■■ and is liable on indictment , to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to a fine not exceeding£soo.

It is declared to be. the . duty of motor drivers, in the event of an.accident arising from the use of a motor vehicle, to render all reasonable and practicable assistance, and to report the accident to the police. Every driver of a motor vehicle (whether he has committed an offence or not) is required to stop, and, on request by a police constable, to. give information sufficient to identify him and the owner of the motor vehicle.

It is also declared to be an offence to use a motor vehicle with any-num-ber or identification mark, obscured. The Governor-General-in-Council is empowered* to make regulations as to numerous matters incidental to the control of motor traffic, and the registration and licensing of motor vehicles.

A schedule attached to the Bill provides the following fees payable for annual licenses: For every motorcycle, 10s; for every private motorcar, £2; for every public motor-car, £2: for every motor-coach or motor omnibus. £5; for trnde motors —for every one-ton truck fitted with pneumatic tvres on all wheels. £2; for evei'y motor lorry fitted wAth fcolid tvres, £5; for every motor lorry fitted with pneumatic tyre 3 on all wheels, £3: for every traction enciue, £5; for every trailer, £3; for every other motor vehicle. £2. Motor vehicles owned) by a local or public authority, and used exclusively for general or local purposes, and also motor vehicles used exclusively for purposes of a public nature are declared to be exempt bv the regulations under this Act. THE MINISTER'S COMMENT. CRITICISM COURTED. (BPBCIAI, TO "THIS PRESS.") WELLINGTON, August 12.

"You have correctly gauged the Motor Vehicles Bill. It i s one of" the most important measures to be brought before Parliament this session," remarked the Minister of Internal Affair* (the Hon. R. P. Bollard) to "Tho Preps'-* representative to-night. "The cardinal aim of the measure " said Mr Bollard, <'i s a legislative attempt to place on a better footing, the control of the ever-increasing number, of motor vehicles in the Dominion, and to assist in providing revenue for the

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