MOTOR DRIVERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 11

MOTOR DRIVERS

RAISING OF AGE LIMIT MINISTER NOT COMMITTED "WRONG IMPRESSION CREATED" [by TELEGRAPH —OWN COnitESrONDENT] WELLINGTON, Sunday A denial was made by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. 1?. Scmple. vesterda.v, that he had committed himself to a statement that drivers' licences should not be issued to persons under 18 years of age. He said a wrong impression seemed to have been created, and he wanted to correct it. 'He explained that when in Auckland he received a deputation from a drivers' organisation which put several suggestions to him. One was that thev should debar boys under 18 years of age from getting motor drivers' .licences. The present ago limit was 16. "The impression left," said Mr. Seniplc.' "was that I agreed to a suggestion about the 18 years. I did agree with other proposals which are contained in the bill already introduced into Parliament, but 1 did not commit myself to the proposal about boys of 18 years of age. I said that I would consider the matter. I approved of the other proposals mixed up with this one. I am not prepared to agree to the lifting of the age to 18. The question of a licence should be considered on individual merits. Anybody of 18 years of age may be just as competent as they will ever be. You have to use common sense in a matter like this. "It is the same where a person iB 65 or 70 years of ago. Some people of this age are capable of driving a car; others are not. Eyesight, hearing and that .sort of thing have to be taken into consideration. "It is a question of common sense and judgment. We will have to try and make the test a little harder than it is at the moment. I think there is room for that. 111 fact. I am sure there is. I have known people get a licence when they never should have had one. Eyesight should be taken into account when a person makes application for a licence." The Minister added that they had to get over the difficulty of imposing any hardship on a young or old man or woman.