INSPECTION OF CARS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 70, 24 March 1937, Page 20

INSPECTION OF CARS

WARNING TO GARAGES

WARRANTS OF FITNESS

A warning to garage proprietors that if they exploited motorists by requiring them to procure non-essential equipment or repairs before issuing warrants of fitness they would be struck'off the list of garages authorised to issue warrants was made by the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Scmple) in a statement last night. "My 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. "I want to warn garage proprietors that I will not stand for anything' in the way of exploitation. I 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 garage concerned for the issue of warrants of fitness. "I have received representations that. the date by which motor vehicles are I required to carry warrants of fitness i (March 31, 1937) should be extended | to May 31. "I have carefully consid- ' ered 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 he able to > deal with the rush over the last few days. APPROVED GARAGES. "Up to the present over 600 garages, have been approved for the issue of warrants of fitness. Additional garages are being approved daily, so that motorists should experience no difficulty in having their vehicles in-, sp'ecied. ' "Although every attempt will be made to see that motor vehicles which do not have -warrants oC fitness by March 31 procure them as soon as pos- ■ siblc, 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 has made a reasonable attempt to procure one. "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 has been approved." He mentioned ten types that have been approved to dale, and added: "I desire to. make this clc-a*1 because I do not want people to spend money on types ! which have not been approved, and then to be faced with the necessity of finding more- money to buy approved types."