MOTORISTS AND LIQUOR

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1936, Page 5

MOTORISTS AND LIQUOR

ALLIANCE DEPUTATION

jPEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, July 24.

“We are saying that if a man does drink, then there shall be a period before he drives a motor-vehicle, and during his driving that he shall not drink,” said a member of a deputation from the New Zealand Alliance, which waited on the Minister for Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) today, with suggestions for an amendment of the Motor Vehicles Act. to tighten up the law against sub-intoxi-cated motorists.

The Rev. J. R. Blanchard said the deputation welcomed the Ministers determination to grapple with the problem of death and injury connected with road traffic and his intention to call a national conference to devise ways and means for the education of the community on the question. Not only in New Zealand but also the world over, judges and magistrates were sounding a warning to motorists as to the effect of alcohol on mental and physical processes. Scientific research and practical observation united in making it clear that, the major fact contributing to motor accidents was the drinking of even moderate quantities of liquor by drivers. Not only the intoxicated driver, but also the sub-intoxicated driver, was a menace on the road. In Norway* a law had been in existence since 1916, forbidding motor drivers, while on duty, to take alcoholic drink, and forbidding it for six hours before they went on duty. “We urge that a notice pointing out the driver’s duty to abstain from alcohol be issued to all New Zealand motorists in this country. We would also suggest amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, such as would repair its defectiveness. As it now stands, it deals adequately with a person who. when in a state of intoxication, drives a motor-vehicle, but it ignores the danger of allowing the sub-intoxicated driver on the road. The Alliance therefore suggests that the Motor Vehicles Act be amended by' deleting the words ‘in a state of intoxication, wherever they occur, and ‘•ubstjtuting for them the words ‘under ’ the influence of intoxicating liquor.’ We also (suggest that the act be further amended to provide that any person who takes liquor while in control of a motor-vehicle, or during a period of three hours before driving, shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine c.f £lO. Further, we desire a provision that any’ person arrested under suspicion of being under the influence of liquor shall, when required, submit himself to such a blood test as may, with the approval of the Minister, be required. A person shall be held to be under the influence of liquor whose blood, when tested contains alcohol in excess ol a. percentage to be determined by the Minister for Transport.’after consultation with the Minister for Health. “These amendments may’ seem drastic.” said Mr Blanchard, “but we believe the problem created by' modern motor traffic, with damage to life and limb, calls for a drastic icmedy” Mr Blanchard referred to the conditional license granted to racecourses and show grounds, to and from which largo numbers of people I ravelled in motor vehicles. The Alliance believed that such licenses had a direct bearing on the relation ot liquor to motor accidents. He suggested that, the Minister make the point a mat ter lor reseal ch. Mr H. R. Coombs proposed that a person who lent a car to another who was subsequently’ responsible lor ■in accident arising out of Mie taking of liquor should bear some responsibility. In addition the motor-vehicle belonging to a driver convicted lot the same cause should be impounded

MINISTER’S REPLY. Replying, Mr Semple expressed regret that, the deputation had not been in a position to present its views before the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act. was passed by the House. However. the last word hud not been heard on the question of making the highways safer. No one could go too far in attempting to stop slaughter on the roads. “A man is entitled to get chunk in New Zealand as long as he goes to bed or takes himself off to some place where he can do no harm to others,” said Mr Semple, “but he is not entitled to drive a car or otheiwise become a menace to life; and as far as it is possible to stop him, I am going to do it. Some people will say we are becoming fanatical, but you cannot be too fanatical when human life is involved. Inm going the whole distance where drunken motoiists or partly-intoxicated motorists are concerned. We may be able to introduce some of these proposed amendments in the Legislative Council, but we cannot tamper with the legislation too much at this stage. ' in any event, the Minister said, lie intended to initiate a campaign to educate the public on the prevention oi accidents. Mr F. C. Spratt: You will have vested interests against you if you start educating the people on this question. Air Semple: 1 don’t care what vested interests interfere as long as I can save half a dozen useful lives. 1 am worrying about God's innocent people, needlessly slaughtered in this country. I am not talking for talking’s sake. Nobody is going to stand in my way. You might tread on somebody’s corns. W ell then, they have got Io be trodden on. The Minister added that he had already begun an educative campaign. The public should be made to realise that in every family of four, one was destined to he either killed or injured on the roads.