MOTOR VEHICLES ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 30 (Supplement)

MOTOR VEHICLES ACT.

DUTY OF MOTORISTS. SUMMARY OF THE REGULATIONS REGISTRATION FROM JANUARY I. The provisions of the new Motor Vehicles Act make it compulsory for all motc-rists to register their motor vehicles and to take out an annual license on and after January 1 next, one month being giver in which to do so. The registration fee payable for all motor vehicles (the act defines a -motor vehicle) is £1. except motor-cycles, for which the fee is 10s, and for the annual license owners are liable for the following fee:' :— £ s d Motor-cycle 0 10 0 Private Motor-car ... 2 0 0 Public Motor-car ... 2 0 0 Motor Coach or Bus ... 5 0 0 In addition to the above fees every driver of a motor vehicle must have a driver's licenso which any local authority may issue on payment of a fee of ss, so that in the first year the owner of 1 a private car will have to pay a total in fees of £3 'ss. Number Plates. Quite a number of Auckland motorists 1 have evinced a . desire to retain their present number plates and I have been asked for'an elucidation of the position under the new act. • ; It will be ; seen from clause 6 (1) provision is made that on receipt of an application for registration the Deputy Registrar' Shall assign a number to be affixed to the motor vehicle, and while it is possible that under this the old numbers will be retained it is evidently intended that on a Change of Ownership the number will go with the car. Clause 17 (1) provides that if a registered motor vehicle is sold, or otherwise disposed of. ' the.person selling the same shall, within seven days, notify the Deputy Registrar giving the name and address of the new owner, together with the certificate of registration of the motor vehicle and the j then current annual license. These will then be endorsed ami re-issued to the new owner on payment of a fee of ss. Under .clause 35. in respect to regulations '-which may be made by Order in Council, wide powers are given, and regulations may be made for the issue of j marks or devices to denote the registra- j lion or the annual licensing of motor vehicles .which may provide for the retention of the original numbers. ; Accidents. If an accident, arising directly or -indirectly from the use of a motor vehicle, occurs to any person, or horse, ox vehicle in charge of'any person, the driver of the motor vehicle shall stop, and, if required, give his name and address to any constable, or to any person concerned, and also the name and address of the owner and the number of the motor vehicle. The responsibility of rendering all practicable , assistance in an accident is' thrown upon the owner by clause 30 (2), 'which also | makes it compulsory for the owner to immediately' report the same at the nearest police station, if the same has not already been reported to a constable..". ...;...: „,-.; lntoxicated Drivers.. .' Heavy penalties are provided for drivers who are intoxicated while in charge of a motor vehicle. No sane motorist will question the clause which provides for a ■ |fine of £100, or to imprisonment for three - months, for driving a motor vehicle negligently, recklessly "or in a manner which might be.dangerous. A term not e>ceed- ' ing five years or a fine, not exceeding £500. is imposed in the case of causing bodily injury to or the death of any person. Endorsement of Licenses. I Provision is made for the endorsement j of licenses, to stand for three years, with confiscation after the second endorsement. j It is a further offence against tho act if a convicted person fails to produce his license to the Court for tho purposes of its endorsement within seven days after having been required to do so. — ■ MOTORISTS' CAMPING GROUNDS. j Ail excellent example has been set by i the Te Aroha Borough Council in the direction of establishing motorists' camp- j ing, grounds in the vicinity of scenic resorts. In a communication to the Auckland Automobile Association, the borough council advised that it had set aside, for ft motorists' camping ground, .a site, adjoining the railway siding at Herriesville, and adjacent to the showground on the Waihou Domain. Water had been I laid on, a cooking place installed and . sanitary provision made. Tho site was i about threc-quartcrs-of-a-mile from tho j Hot Springs Domain. Mr. J. Gilbert, representing the Hamilton branch of the association, spoke of the preference of most motorists for an open-air holiday. . By the establishment of. somo camps a pleasanter holiday was possible, with more, lasting memories, than would be obtained by the ordinary routine of hotel life. ■ It, was mentioned that, a similar camp was maintained at the Waitomo Caves. ' A resolution was passed thanking the Te Aroha Borough Council for the practi- j cal interest it had- displayed. | KEEP PLUGS CLEAN. Keep the spark plugs clean.- Inside j and outside keep them free from carbon j and oil. Don't widen tho spark gap and. I wonder why you--have trouble starring your car and why. the engine misfires ,nd j doesn't work well, Spark, plugs should ,' be snappy workers. I * l_—_ j ... i CHRISTMAS GREETINGS. ! To all motorists and to all connected! with motoring, 1 extend a hearty wish I for a very Merry Christmas and a Pros- | pen is Nov.- Year.

BY FOCUS.

NOTES. Dannevirke Borough Council has reappointed a traffic inspector for the busy period to see that the motor by-laws are strictly observed and that traffic is properly regulated. 5 Members of the Auckland Automobile Association are to be supplied shortly • with maps of the North Island indicating the class cf roads and the distances between various towns. Direction signs on the Swanson-West i Coast road were taken down recently and r replaced in the wrong positions. Mr. R. ' E. Champtaloup reported to the last meeting of the council of the A.A.A. that the ' error had now been rectified. [ The colour route scheme fur main roads ' is now practically complete throughout the South Island, with the exception of the north road. Canterbury, which has I been partly done and will be completed i shortly. The scheme has met with the i whole-hearted approval of touring motor- ! ists. Registrations of motor-cars and motor- • trucks with tho traffic department of the , Auckland City Council during the past , week totalled 67, as against the record i number of 102 for the previous week. Motor-cycles numbered 17, as against 20 for the preceding period. Discussing the Main Highways Act, - Mr. .A. C. Russell, chairman of WaipukuI rau County Council, said that the heavy j traffic on "the roads would have to be ' grappled with. Pig lorries from Dannevirke were cutting up the roads. All they could do was to collect licenses, and control the winter traffic. At the foot of St. Stephens Avenue, just above the Parnell Baths, there is a nicely kept piece of grass on the left hand side the road on which some motorists of late have been in the habit of parking their cars. Exactly why they should do this is incomprehensible as there is plenty of road for parking purposes. Motorists are asked to keep off this strip. Mr. G. W. Hutchison, secretary of the Auckland Automobile Association, is returning via Sydney. During his absence a world tour extending over a period of 12 months. The latter part of the tour embraced the East, from which he is returning via Sydney. During his absence he has been assiduous in collecting information and ideas regarding conditions ! in the motor world abroad, and any sugi gestions he may make as a result of his j observations will receive welcome consideration by New Zealand motorists. - ' __ : i MAIN ROADS. Rotorua-Taupo. —The flat beyond Waiotapu. known as Hickey's, has been ploughed and regraded, but should consolidate soon. Other improvements have been effected on this road. Atiamuri-Orakeikorako. —Repair work has been carried out recently on this road. The springs and caves are well worth a visit. There is also excellent trout fishing I in the Waikato river just below Orakeikorako. , Rotorua-Atiamuri.—At the dB-milo peg a deviation is being built, which will cut- out a small winding hill route. It will be finished shortly and whir tho ' regrading which has been carried out in places, good time should be made on this road. The Kairaai Run.— The motor s?.rvico drivers report that the Raimai riln, Matamata to Tauranga, is in fair order, states j our Matamataj correspondent. It, is somewhat rough in places; a short distance on either side having been cut up badly during the wet weather, but on the who've the road offers good motoring. Continued fine weather will result in further improvement. Ohura-Stratford.— Motorists who contem-plate-a tour'to Tarau'aki and the StratI ford district will be interested in the fob j lowing information concerning the pic- - turesque route through the Tangarakau j Gorge on the Ohura-Stratford Road. At the outset it must be stated that this is an unmetalled highway over almost the I whole of its length, and is only passable |in dry weather. The road was recently • inspected by Mr. T. M. Ball, the disI trict engineer for the Public Works Dej partment, for a. distance of 67 miles from ■ the Stratford Post Office. This distance | is in good order for motorists, but the I worst part is to be found on the Stratford I side of the Whangamomona. sadde, where I the rough papa surface is rapidly improving tinder traffic. On the other siope I tho drag log is being used with good j results' , From Whangamomona " onwards no motorist need fear the road, and a wonI derful 'improvement has been effected by : the road gangs on the Moki saddle and ;in the Tangarakau Gorge. The gorge I road is again opened for traffic after be- | ing blocked since the floods of May I, st. This scenic reserve should form the objective of many parties as the summer advances. The following road reports v ere received by the Auckland Automobile Association during the week — North Auckland Roads.—High winds are keeping all mud roads dry, and cars can get through practically anywhere. Warkworth-Whangarei.— - report rei cently appearing in the press recommending travellers to fake the route via Leigh jis misleading. This route is considerably j longer and embraces several fairly steep I hills. The road between Warkworth and I Wayby has been open for tho last fort- I | night, and is in quite good order. Glen Murray-Rangiriri, 12 mile:;.—Very j | good. ! ° I I Tauranga- Waihi, 44 miles:—Good, SerI vices making record runs. j ! Tauranga-Matamata, 38 miles.—Fairly j good. Heavy rain early in week, but I ! road again dry. ■ Tauranga-Te Puke-Rotorua, 58 miles.— I i Rotorua-To Puke section still wet, but j | should dry shortly. j Te Kuiti-New Plymouth, 110 miles.— ! I Good.