TESTING OF MOTORVEHICLES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22003, 29 January 1937, Page 8

TESTING OF MOTORVEHICLES

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Suv—When the Minister for Transport began his campaign for greater safety on the roads almost the whole community was with him. Now, judging by what we know of the proposed regulations, most people must think that it would have been better if he had framed these according to his own judgment and common sense, instead of calling in so many counsellors. Too many cooks are going to get us all into the soup. To try to solve this problem by rule of thumb will get us nowhere. As your leading article pointed out, very few accidents are due to faulty mechanism, so why pay so much for this doubtful precaution? Motorists were promised that the registration fee, etc., would be replaced by one tax which would be' paid by them in proportion to the vise they made of the roads; yet here is another fiat rate being added. Owners of new cars rightly object tq it, but what of the old ones? A. great many of these must be showing various defects of some sort, and it would be suprising if none of these busy inspectors found some menace lurking within them. The fact is that many of these old cars will be turned off the road unless their owners wake up. A great number of producers and tradesmen use these vehicles in their daily work, and probably many would be unable to replace them if condemned. Most of them have come through many years without harming anyone, and this must be taken as a tribute to both the driver and his old car._ These drivers know the faults of their cars and drive accordingly. It is the same with the individual with his disabilities. A driver with defective eyesight will use more than ordinary care on the roads. The only exception Is drink, for whoever takes it becomes at once a menace and yet at the same time fails to realise itWhy does the committee not get down to the work for which it was appointed, and not shirk the drink problem. If a man is convicted of being drunk while driving, Keep his license until he signs the pledge; if he breaks that, keep it altogether. The point is that none of these offenders have been taken off the roads for good, yet many owners of old cars are definitely due for that if they do not watch it. We are told somewhere, I think, to put new wine into new bottles, but it is the irresponsible young squib in a fast car who generally causes trouble. This inspection part of the programme looks to me suspiciously like a trade move, for if every car more than a few years ol’d could be scrapped, what » chance to sell new ones. —Yours, etc., T.A.S. January 28, 1937. .TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir, —Could you please inform me whether the testing and inspection of motor vehicles is to apply to motorcycles also? And would the fee be the same in each case?— Yours, etc., C.A.G. January 28, 1937. [“lt would appear from the regulations that the term ‘motor-vehicles’ includes a motor-cycle,” said Mr T. MilliKen, chairman of the Christchurch City Council traffic committee, when this letter was referred to him. “It also seems, therefore, that the fee would be the same.” No distinction is made in the regulations.!

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TRESS.

Sir, —Please allow me space to comment on the new motor-car regulations. As the motorists have been a long-suf-fering body regarding taxes, I think this is the last straw. Speeches of Labour party members during the last election campaign indicated that there were to be no more taxes. They have not Kept their word. First they put up the price of petrol another penny a gallon; now we have new regulations about brakes, engine defects, etc.. which will not do any good and are a waste of time. While you have drunken motorists behind a car wheel you can expect accidents, no matter what expense is made to assure that the car is in order. The best way is to make the car forfeit of a motorist who is drunk, and prohibit him from getting another car and a license. This would do away with many accidents. But perhaps Mr Semple is hard up for money and the motorists are to be called on for it. It is no good one or two writing through your paper; what is wanted is concerted action by motorists in protesting against the new rules. What does the Automobile Association think about them? It is for the motorists to see that the rules of the road are obeyed. Many motorists disregard the rule about giving, way to a car approaching on the right, neglect to sound horns on approaching corners, and fail to give signals. I should like to see Mr Semple go eiiead and make the railway crossings safe, and give the long-suffering motorists a spell for. a while.—Yours, etc., ANOTHER MOTORIST. January 2T, 1937. i

TO TUB EDITOR QV THE PRESS.

Sir, —In reference to your article in "The Press" to-day, may I make a contribution. Being curious to know

what amount the motorists of New Zealand would have to pay for this service, I turned up the New Zealand Year Book for 1936. The number of Licensed vehicles as at March 31, 1935, is given as cars, trucks, taxis, service cars and buses. 179,770. At 10s each a year, this gives £89,885, and motorcycles, 24.570 at 2s 6d, give another £6142 10s, which brings the amount up to £96,027 10s. I have been informed that vehicles licensed by the Transport Board have to pay 10s for each inspection. If that is so, the amount is further increased by £3168 10s. Should a vehicle fail to pass at the first test a second is necessary and a second fee may be charged. The number of vehicles on the road at the pi-psent time must be much greater than at March 31. 1935, so that it is quite possible that the sum collected will be somewhere in the vicinity of £120,000, a huge sum to pay for a service that could in the main be dispensed with.—Yours, etc., A. E. P. West Eyreton, January 27, 1937.