WAITING FOR THE MINISTER

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21991, 15 January 1937, Page 7

WAITING FOR THE MINISTER

(CERTIFICATES OF FITNESS CITY COUNCIL WANTING ADVICE The traffic regulations designed by the Minister for Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, having been published, local bodies among them the Christchurch City Council, are awaiting further announcements by the Minister for until these announcements are made sections of the regulations cannot be put into effect. This applies particularly to the section requiring motor vehicles to be inspected at intervals of six months, and the work oi the traffic department of the Christchurch City Council will be considerably enlarged if it is required to furnish the certificates. The regulation requires every driver to carry a certificate of fitness after March 31, and the certificate musl have-been issued during the previous six months. The regulation also states that the certificate "shall be issued by a city authority or a person or firm appointed or approved for the purpose by the Minister." Other than having received a copy of these regulations the traffic department of the City Council has not been informed of its responsibilities. There ere 17,000 motor vehicles in the city area, and for each of these to be examined would occupy seven or eighl men for six months. This is the opinion of Mr T. Milliken, chairman oJ ■the traffic committee of the council By the time those seven or eight men had finished their first inspection, he said, it would be time for them to starl again. If the inspection of the vehicle is made by an officer of the Crown a

fee of 5s must be paid into the Reserve Bank, but no payment is fixed by the regulations for an inspection by a city authority or other body. There has been some confusion for some time on this point, and the Minister has already said that garages could make the inspections for their clients "at a consideration." That,consideration has not been indicated, however, but even if it be generous it is unlikely that the City Council would be eager to accept a responsibility which would necessitate a big increase in its traffic staff. Other advice for which the council is waiting is the type of rear reflector approved by the Minister for bicycles if any has yet been approved. For some time- certain types of rear reflectors' havi* been ruled out in Christchurch. It is possible that the decision of the Minister will demand completely new types in the city, and it is felt that the announcement should be made soon if all the city's bicycles are to conform to the regulation by March 31.