THE CONTROL OF TRAFFIC

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22338, 28 February 1938, Page 10

THE CONTROL OF TRAFFIC

METROPOLITAN AREAS PROPOSED TRANSPORT ACT CHANGES OUTLINED ISSUE OF DRIVERS' LICENCES* TO BE TIGHTENED The establishment in Christchurch and other cities ol metropolitan traffic areas, the placing of towns of a population of under 6000 under the control of the Transport Department, and the tightening-up of the issue of drivers' licences are proposals contained in the new Transport BUI now ready for presentation to Parliament For breaches of the traffic laws, no higher penalties are proposed, the Minister for Transport (the Hon. B. Semple) being of the view that offenders should not be penalised more rigidly until the system of control is improved. "The Bill is now ready and I am satisfied that it will improve traffic conditions in every part of the Dominion," the Minister said m reply to a question on Saturday by "The Press." "After all, the traffic problem is principally one of control and education and the present system will never reach the desired objective unless we do what is proposed in the bill." With emphasis, Mr Semple declared that there had been too much confusion in the past—not only in Christchurch, but everywhere else; And it would exist until a proper system of control and enforcement was introduced. "Such a system is the basis of the amendments I am going to put before the House," he said. Organisation for Control , While the amendments would not touch the question of heavier penalties for offences, an important provision was aimed at the tightening up of the issue of drivers' licences. Before the penalties could be increased, the coon. try had to have an organisation for control that would be up to standard, Mr Semple said. "Having accomplished that, we can - then turn our attention to the people who are definitely and positively defying the law, in spite of the fact that we have an organisation. While we have a weak organisation, we cannot be too hard on the people. The organisation as it exists is not up to the standard, and, consequently, there is, and will be, a multiplicity of breaches of the law until we have a better system of control. Our first job is to create an organisation possessing control and proper enforcement" Those people who ignored the new organisation would be made "to sit up and take notice," Mr Semple addef * However, first of all, the r f would put its traffic house in order.