FITNESS OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 152, 24 March 1937, Page 10

FITNESS OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Needless Repairs WARNING TO GARAGE proprietors Alleged Exploitation "Mv attention has been drawn to cases* where garages are requiring motorists to procure non-essential equipment or repairs before issuing warrants of fitness,” said the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, last evening, hi an interview, "I want to warn garage proprietors that I will not stand’for anything in the way of exploitation. 1 am having full inquiries made in all the cases that, are reported to me and if it is clear that exploitation is going on. I shall not hesitate immediately to withdraw the approval of the mirage concerned for the issue of warrants of fitness. ‘T have received representations that the date by which motor vehicles are required to carry warrants of fitness (March 31. 1937). should be extended to May 31,” continued Mr. Semple. “I have carefully considered these representations, and have decided that the present date (March 31) is to be adhered to for two main reasons, first, because I am anxious in the interests of public safety that all motor vehicles .should be made mechanically safe as soon as possible, and secondly, that the •last minute’ psychology would apply even if the date were postponed, with the result that the garages would not be al>2“ to deal with the rush over the last tew days.

“Up to tlie present over 600 garages have been approved for the issue of warrants of fitness. Additional gara"e.s are being approved daily, so that inotprists should experience no difficulty in having their vehicles inspected. “Although every attempt will be made to see that motor vehicles which do not have warrants of fitness by March 31 procure them as soon as possible, the enforcement, of the scheme will be carried out with discretion and common sense and no motorist will be prosecuted for not having a warrant if he can show that he lias made a reasonable attempt to procure one. Reflectors for Bicycles. “As many people are now purchasing rear red reflectors for their bicycles in order to comply with the requirement in the traffic regulations that all bicycles must carry these reflectors after March 31,” concluded Mr. Semple, “I want to emphasise that they should take care that the reflectors which they buy are of a type that lias been approved.” He mentioned ten types that have been approved to date, and added : “I desire to make this clear liecause I do not want people to spend money on types which hpve not been approved, and then to he faced with the necessity of finding more money to buy approved types.”