WARRANT OF FITNESS

Evening Star, Issue 22797, 4 November 1937, Page 9

WARRANT OF FITNESS

NOT COMPLETE ABSOLUTION MOTORISTS’ INTERIM RESPONSIBILITY [Pee United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, November 3. The responsibility of motorists to maintain the mechanical condition of their cars after the issue of warrants of fitness was emphasised by the Minister of Transport (Mr Semple) in a statement issued to-day. Mr Semple said the possession of a warrant did not absolve a motorist entirely for the ensuing six months. The Minister said the purpose of the legislation requiring owners of motor vehicles to obtain warrants of fitness was to ensure that every motor vehicle using the public roadways was in such a condition that it was not likely to prejudice the safety of road users. The examination simply ensured that the condition of the vehicle was satisfactory every six months, and it was the duty of the motorist to see that the vehicle was maintained in a satisfactory condition. “ Some motor vehicles may travel 10 times the distance of others during the same period,” Mr Semple said. “ Thus the authority issuing the warrant cannot he called on to accept unconditional responsibility over the whole sixmonthly period. If a motorist is not mentally capable of realising when he is driving a vehicle that is a menace on the roads he should not be given a driver’s license in the first place.”