MOTOR VEHICLES

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 130, 26 February 1925, Page 9

MOTOR VEHICLES

LICENSE REGULATIONS ISSUED LOCAL BODY’S POWERS TESTING APPLICANTS FOR DRIVERS’ LICENSES Regulations under the Motoi Vehicles Act passed last session were issued yesterday. They deal chiefly with the licensing of drivers of motor-cars. April 1 is set down as the date after which no person may drive a motor-car in New Zealand without a license. Licenses issued under the regulations will not empower persons under the age of 18 years to drive public motor-cars or public omnibuses. The limit of age for drivers of ordinary cars, as fixed by the Act, was 15 years. Applications by owners of motor-cars for licenses must be made to the local authority in whose district the garage of the car is situated. Should the applicant not be an owner, he must apply in the district in which he resides, whether pernianently or not. Local. authorities empowered to issue licenses include borough councils, county councils, town boards not-form-ing part of a county, or road boards in counties where the Counties Act is suspended or not in force. Local authorities may delegate their powers to other local authorities for the purpose of issuing licenses. In such case, arrangements may be made for the apportionment of license fees.

Licenses may. be issued, without examination, in cases where persons have been in possession of a license issued by a local authority prior to the coming into force of these regulations, provided that the local authority competent to issue licenses is satisfied as to the ability of the applicant. Where the application is made by a person other than a licensed driver, the local authority shall cause the applicant to undergo such test as it thinks sufficient of his abil.itv to drive a motor, vehicle, and to conform to requirements'of any regulations or by-laws relating to motor traffic. The local authority is empowered to make licensed drivers undergo the same test, if. it considers that course necessary in the interests of public safetv. If a person who is not the holder of a license to drive a. motor-car has been accustomed to driving for thiee months prior to April 1, the local authority may, if it deems fit, dispense with the examination. Licenses, issued shall specify the classes of motor-vehicle they will entitle the holder to drive. r MINISTER’S COMMENTS SUGGESTIONS OF LOCAL ' BODIES Commenting on the new regulations, the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. R. F. Bollard) said that before they were finally approved a copy was sent to ■ local bodies and motor unions for their consideration. As a result of that action he had received from the local bodies some very valuable suggestions, nearly all of which had been embodied in the regulations. “I appreciate,” said Mr. Bollard, “ the thorough consideration gi»en to the draft regulations by tfie bodies to whom I sent them for review. Their assistance has enabled the Department of Internal Affairs to make the regulations as complete as I think it possible to make them, which will certainly tend to their easy working.” The Minister stated that the ’preparation of the balance of the regulations under the Act was nearing completion, and local bodies would be consulted about them before they are issued. A circular letter has been forwarded by the Minister to the licensing authorities, in which he states: — “As a result of suggestions made, certain alterations have been made in the regulations, among others, by striking out the requirement for a recommendation by a licensed driver, and an alteration of the form o" license in order to provide for different kinds of motor-vehicles, it being realised that a person qualified to drive one kind of motor-vehicle was t not necessarily qualified to drive another kind.. “Your attention is also drawn to the provisions of regulation 10, requiring a local authority to keep a record, with the particulars indicated in that regulation, of all motor-drivers’ licenses issued by such authority. _ “I desire, to point out that it is essential that all persons appointed as examiners of applicants for , motordrivers’ licenses should be fully qualified for the position. If in any case a local authority cannot command the services of a competent examiner, it should make arrangements with another local authority for the examination of applicants from its district (see regulation 5 (1).” PLATES AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK The registrar of motor vehicles announces that standard plates for motor vehicles will be available to vehicle owners in the Wellington Jistrict, with the exception of Palmerston North, on Monday, March '2. The'delivery of plates to vehicle pwners in Palmerston North will be commenced on March 4. Vehicle owners should apply for their plates at the post office at which registration was effected.