PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1936, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

MOTOR VEHICLES BILL.

[FEB PBEBB ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON. July 22.

In the House, Mr. Forbes asked the Prime Minister whether Mr. Langstone’s statement in Samoa, that ‘we do not want Samoa, we do not want your bananas, we do not want the Maui Pomare.” had the sanction of the Government. , Mr. Savage replied that the policy of the Government was correctly stated by Mr. Langstone when he said- “ Our sole desire is to act as big brothers, and do everything possible for the Samoan race.” The second reading debate on the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill was continued by Mr. Cotterill, who

thought that both the motorist ana pedestrian could be further educated. Many motorists were inconsiderate or intolerant, and were often responsible for accidents, he said. Automobile associations had done wonderful work in sign posting roads, and must have done much to minimise accidents. The debate was interrupted to enable the Finance Bill to be introduced. The Bill was read a first time. Returning to the Motor Vehicles Bill, Mr. Lyons said a motor vehicle could become a projectile capable of tremendous damage, unless it were properly controlled, and he welcome the Bill, because it did away with the necessity of providing special roads where vehicles could have been operated at high speeds, and the provision of by-path roads, which would have been almost impossible in such a young country as New Zealand. Mr. Schramm agreed that the national by-laws should be enforced. Fie welcomed the provisions which would end the present slaughter on the highways. He considered the hit and run motorist was worse than the intoxicated motorist, because the hit and run motorist left people to die on the road. He would like to see a provision in the Bill enabling a person to claim compensation, so long as he could prove he was the victim of a hit and run motorist. , . Mr. Petrie said the legislation and penalties would be ineffective unless the public conscience were raised, and the Minister had the intelligent cooperation of all citizens of the Dominion. Cyclists were a real menace, and the Minister would require to give serious consideration to the question of bringing down regulations to govern the conduct of cyclists on the road Mr. Mcachen said he was satisfied the best solution of the problem was the education of the public in the rules of safely first. From his own observation he was satisfied that motorists offended least of all. Cyclists were the worst offenders. Mr. C. H. Burnett contended that some form of notification should be given of all accidents, whether any person were injured or not. He would like to see the wording of some clauses in the Bill more definite. In some places the meaning was too

vague. Mr. Coleman said that the Bill was welcomed by local bodies throughout New Zealand. He thought there should be some control over headlights, and considered it should be obligatory on motorists to dip headlights when meeting another car. Mr. Chapman said the Bill was an attempt to deal with one of the most pressing problems of the day, and the Minister had attempted to deal with it in a practical manner. In the evening, a number of amendments to the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill were introduced. Mr. Semple explained that the power to make regulations governing cycles was struck out. The Minister was given power to disallow, wholly or in part, any by-law made by a local authority, relating to any form of traffic, if the Minister thought that the matter should be dealt with by general provision. Another amendment authorised the periodical examination of motor vehicles, at a charge to the motorist of 5/- an examination, and also controls tho hours of drivers of lorries used for commercial purposes. It is also provided that any person, upon payment of a fee of 1/-, may obtain from the Registrar of motor licenses, particulars of any vehicle. Mr. Wright contended that any person found guilty of wilful carelessness or negligence should have his license cancelled practically for ever. Mr. Semple, in reply, thanked the House for the goodwill displayed during the discussion on the measure, and the approval shown. When it came to a question of saving human life, they were all in agreement. The same could be said of the country generally. The Bill had met with the unanimous approval of the local authorities to whom it had been sent; and who had replied to him. Some valuable suggestions had been received from local bodies, and amendments had been introduced. The fatalities that had occurred since the Bill was introduced justified it a thousand times. In the last five or six weeks there had been 47 persons killed on the highways, and he thought that most of the accidents were prevent-

ible. He agreed that it was in schools they had to start to train young minds concerning the rules and dangers of the road. Mr. Semple referred to the multiplicity of by-laws and said that these bylaws had not progressed with the times, and now hail to be brought up-to-date. It was not intended, Mr. Semple said, that all old cars should be scrapped. It was the car that would not stand

examination, and was in a dangerous condition, /iat would be put off the road. It was his intention, when tho Bill became law, to call a conference in Wellington of all interested in transport, to try to prevent the slaughter on the roads, and Parliament’s efforts would be futile, unless it had the co-

operation of those outside the House. Mr. Semple said that he was satisfied a simple set of by-laws, governing transport from the North Cape to the Bluff, would go a long way to reduce the number of fatalities. i The second reading was carried, and the House'went into committee to consider the clauses of the Bill.

The short title was discussed, on the lines of the earlier debate, for a little over an hour, and the remainder of the clauses were passed, without discussion.

The committee stages were completed, and the Bill was read a third time, and passed.

Mr. Mason moved the second reading o£ the Regulations Bill. Mr. Bodkin said that the Bill would be welcomed by the legal profession. The. remaining stages were completed, and the Bill was passed.