NOT A NEW IDEA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 July 1938, Page 7

NOT A NEW IDEA.

EEGISTKATION OF FIT OARS QIILY COMMENT ON MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT

Special to "Chronicle") PALMERSTON N., This Day. Manawatu motorists and business- . men were more than interested yesterday, in the comments of Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Wellington Magistrate's Court regarding the number of cars on the road without warrants,: of fitness and in particular in his, Worship's suggestion that an effective way to deal with the situation would be to insist that before a person could, relicense a car he must produce a warrant of fitness for the vehicle. As far back as July 1935 the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, viewing with alarm the large number of accidents, urged that this should be done and went as far as to call a conference of local bodies in and around the city to discuss the matter. Unfortunately from the chamber's point of view, there was no support for the proposal and, peculiarly enough, when the matter was also brought before the North Island Motor Union, it was also turned down on the ground that it -would hold up the relicensing of vehicles. There was offered as well the excuse that it would '' involve the testing of every motor vehicle in the country." On that occasion, Mr. W. H. Brown, one of Manawatu's delegates, pointed out that less than 20 per ■cent of motor vehicles on the roads were tested the year before (under a voluntary system.) . Times and thought have changed in , the last two years and the country has ' witnessed the compulsory testing of all -motors notwithstanding the fears that fliad been expressed so that the proposal of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce and Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., may still fall upon open ears. Interviewed yesterday, Mr. S.'l. McKenzie, secretary of the chamber anil •also secretary of the Automobile Association (Manawatu), who was responsible for the original idea to have the warrants of fitness produced at licensing time, said he could see no valid -argument against it being put into force. It would ensure that vehicles weTe properly tested at least once a year whereas the experience now was that many motorists wero either •dodging the necessity or overlooking it. Comment has also been made of the

comparatively larjp number of motor-j ists who appear before the Courts | charged with driving without licenses.! These defendants invariably are cTis-| covered through being involved in an! -accident and it is considered b3yond the realms of coincidence that only) those suffering mishaps have failed to; take out driving licenses. It is felt -that a "raid" would ' ' illuminating in its results. •