MOTORING MATTERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 18 August 1934, Page 8

MOTORING MATTERS

Work of N.I. Union RE\IEW OF PAST YEAR Guardianship of Rights The North Island Motor Union in every scope possible fulfils in tho true sense its guardianship of the rights of the motorist, This year’s annual report of tho president, Mr AV. A. O’Callaghan, is a recital of the endeavours of the union to bring about on the road better conditions for the motorist by representation to the Government and other means. By no means the smallest sphere in which the union serves its members is that of service to the motorist. The annual report, which was presented at the union’s annual conference, was as follows:— “The year ended June 30, 1934, wa 3 another .year of financial difficulty as tar as the Dominion generally is concerned, and the Automobile Associations might have been forgiven if, in view of tho financial stringency, they had curtailed service to members. On tho contrary, all our associations have followed the policy of giving more and vet more service to members, with the lesult tl;at the aggregate membership of associations affiliated to this union has increased during the year. ■'Membership.-Membership o f mu associauoua al Juue jq Bag ag follows:— ... i- 308 Manawutu 1276 South Taranaki ’ /086 Wellington ‘ 4/3ti A'anarapa 1)3y3 Hauke s Bay .. | Wanganui lutauak; .. 1j242 ■Total 28,320 “At the end of 1933 the total membership of affiliated associations was 27,869, so that this year's figures show an increase of 451 compared with the previous year. “The services available to financial members of an automobile association are so varied and so valuable that it is false economy for anyone owning a motor car not to be a member of an association. Automobile association members who to-day are enjoying the privileges of membership agree that the guinea that they pay to the Automobile Association by way of subscription is the best investment they make in tho year. 'Get you home’ service.—Tn December the Automobile Associations in the Manawatu, Taranaki Wanganui, Hawke’s Hay. Wairarapa and South Taranaki districts put into operation a ‘Get lou Home’ service, Thi a is now being adopted by tho Auckland and Wellington associations, so that the «rvice is available to all Automobile Association members throughout the North Island. This ‘get you home’ service is designed to render assistance to Automobile Association members in the event of a roadside breakdown.

I nder the plan all it is necessary for the member to do in tho event of the breakdown is to communicate with the nearest garage and a mechanic will bo sent to his assistance. If tho mechanic cannot get the car going within an hour ho will arrange to tow the member’s car to the garage or to the member’s home, whichever is tho nearer. This service is given Automobile Association members free of cost, within a radius of 15 miles from the garage to the member’s home, but in cases where the service is required between midnight and 6 a.m. and overtime rate s are payable to the garage people, the member is required to pay the excess on the amount ordinarily payable by the association. The service docs not extend to cases where a car runs out of petrol or oil, it being considered that a motorist before setting out on a trip should satisfy himself that he has sufficient of each. This service alone is worth the annual subscription. SPEED LIMITS. “Onus of proof.—As tho law stands to-day, if a motorist is charged with exceeding a speed limit tho onus is upon him to prove that bo was not so doing This is a reversal of the ordinary principle of British justice that an offender is deemed to be innocent until ho is proved guilty, and it is pleasing to see that the unfairness of the existing practice is recognised by the Transport Department, and it is proposed, under the amendments to the Motor Regulations, that tho onus of proof in such cases will be shifted to tho traffic authority alleging the offence, who will then have to prove that the motorist was, in fact, either driving to the common danger or, if a speed limit is prescribed, exceeding that speed limit. “Drivers’ Licences. — At present it is an offence to drive a motor vehicle unless the driver carries his driver’s licence with him. Tho proposal contained in the suggested amendment 1o the Motor Vehicles Act is that :i driver shall he allowed 49 hours within which to produce his licence to tho traffic authorities. This concession will no doubt bo welcomed hv motorists, altlionnh it is somewhat belated. “Fixing of number plates on motor cars. —Under the Motor Regulations a motor car nin‘t carry l.ho current xonr’s numls r plates and they must be affixed on June 1 in each .'ear. 'I he moforist is not allowed to display the current year’s number plates before that chile. Therefore to comply with tin- letter of Hie law motorists are required to go out nt midnight on May I. and fix their new number plates. 9ome definite date, of course must bo prescribed unon which the old number plates must not be used, hut one finds it difficult tn conceive of an;, traffic niiihoritv taking advantage of the l:>-.v as it stands to institute pre’eciit'on". Yet the unexpected has In pp' r- d. and in Palmerston North r<" < nHy over 50 n’oforists were prosecuted for failing to comply with the regulations nnd using their vehicles on the first dav of Juno without the current year's number plates affixed. One man was actually putting his plates on v hen ho was apprehended. In order to prerent such an absurdity arising

m future it seems to me that the law might well be amended to allow motorists to affix their number plates within the week pieceding tho first day of Juno. Any person not doing so, of course, would be liable to prosecution, and wo find no excuse for him, but it seems to me that we must take some steps to see that motorists are protected against exploitation such as recently occurred in Palmerston North. “Cost of number plates—At the present time motorists arc charged 2/6 per annum for their number plates. Tho Post Office receives from the Mam Highways Board 1/6 for each registration effected, and this 1/6, of course, comes out of motor taxation. We have suggested to the Postmaster-General that number plate a could quite well bo sold to motorists at 1/- per set, as it is unreasonable that tho Post Office should make a profit out of sell- ‘ mg number plates when it is already adequately remunerated by the High, ways Board for work done in connection with registration. I think it is safe to say that the I’ost Office is making in the vicinity of £lO,OOO a year out of selling number plates to motorists, and in view of the heavy burden of taxation already carried by motorists I think that 1 am justified in observing that this is an unfair imposition. “Conversion of Tifotor Cars. —One of the most exasperating things that, can happen to a motorist is to have his car stolen or ‘converted,’ ns tho law calls the offence. The penalty for this offence at present is up to three months’ imprisonment, and we have maintained for many years past that the penalty is so inadequate that, in effect, it encourages motor-car thieves. Almost every day a motor car is stolen in New Zealand, and during this present year there have been four cases where vio lence has accompanied tho wrongful conversion of a vehicle. AVe have, on behalf of motorists, urged every Minis ter of Justice for many years past to increase tho penalty so as to stamp out tho offence, nnd 1 am glad to be able to report that we are now assured by the Hon. Mr J. G. Cobbe that tho Gov ernment this year proposes to introduce legislation designed to increase tho pen city. AVhiln referring to this matter. 1 am reminded of a case which occurred last month in which a man who stole a sheep valued at £1 was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Yet, if the same man had converted a motor-ear valued at £5OO, the most that he could have received would have been three months’ imprisonment. Could anything be more ridiculous! VALUE OF RADIO. “The Now Zealand Radio Broadcasting Board. —Thanks are duo to the board for its invaluable co-operation with the Automobile Association in, from time to time, broadcasting de script ions of cars that have been converted. A number of cases can% be quoted where, as a result of the broadcast, tho missing car has been recovered, and, in one particular instance that 1 know of, the thieves were caught red-handed. “Change of Name.---During the year negotiations between Automobile Associations in New Zealand have resulted in all associations agreeing to change their names to The Automobile Association followed by their territorial designation. Hitherto there has been no uniformity'—wo have had motor clubs as well as associations in our midst, and we have also had the territorial designation prefixed to the words ‘Automobile Association. ’ Tho alteration in nomenclature is. I think, a step in the right direction, and our thanks are due to all Automobile Association executives who havo facilitated bring ing the change about. “Railway level crossings.— Very little has been done in New Zealand this year in the direction of improving the visibility at level crossings, and still less has been done towards eliminating these danger spots. AA’orso than this, however, is a recent announcement by the chairman of tho Railways Board that tho elimination of level crossings is no concern of tho Railway Depart-

i ment, but a matter for the local author . ities. Had 1 the railways in New Zealand been privately owned, level crossing; ■ would never have been tolerated, but because they are run by the State, not only are they permitted, but wo find the chairman of the Railways Board making the declaration I havo referred to. Some years ago it was agreed that the cost of elimination of level crossings should be borne proportionately by the Railway Department, the Main Highways Board and the local reading authority. This seemed to be a fair arrangement, and it is difficult to understand why tho Railway Department should suddenly experience this change of heart. AVe have written to the Primo Minister asking him to endeavour to prevail upon the Railway Department to take a more reasonable view of the problem. “Evidence on Commission.— It frequently happens that a motorist is charged with an offence at some point away from his residence. It may be 100 miles distant. He may have a perfectly good defence to tho charge, but as the law stands at present, if he desires to defend tho action, he must himself appear at the Court of hearing and takehis witnesses with him, and therefore it is in most cases cheaper to allow judgment to go against the alleged offender and pay the fine rather than go to the expense of defending the action, although the motorist mny have a perfectly good defence. This has always seemed to us to bo unfair because justice should be available to all nt little expense, and we will have to con l.inue to urge upon tho Government that in such eases tho alleged offender may bo allowed to give his evidence in his home town and for if to bo transmitted to tho Court of hearing so that ho is not found guilty without being heard. “South Island (N.Z.) Motor Union.— I have pleasure in reporting that throughout the year we have continued to enjoy the valuable co-operation of our friends in the South Island. It is hoped that as the years go on oqr relations will bo cemented and thereby ensure maximum service to the motorists of New Zealand. “Mr H. M. Wyiv, nrd.-—No annual report of this union for many yours has been complete without reference to the excellent work done by our friend Mr AVynyard. who represents the motorists of New Zealand on the Main Highways Board. I have pleasure in recording our continued indebtedness to Mr AV.vu yard and our appreciation of the good work ho hug deco Over so many years on our behalf. AVe ar - .- lad :o see that Mr AVynyard is now restored to health after his recent illness.''