MOTOR TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8186, 30 July 1912, Page 5

MOTOR TRAFFIC.

PROBLEMS OF REGULATION. A number of remits relating to regulation of motor traffic were discussed by tho Municipal Conference yesterday, several being in the direction of making rather drastic provisions in regard to competency to drive, speed, and registration. Mr A. Murray (Napier) moved —“That tho Motor Regulation Act, 1908, be amended as follows: —By repealing tho definition of the term ‘registering authority’ in section 3 thereof, and by substituting tho following;—‘Registering authority' means tho council of any borough or county, the board of any town district (where tho same does not form part of a county) and tho board of any- road district (where the Counties Act, 1908 is suspended).” This was seconded by Mr Foot (Wairoa) and carried.

Mr Murray also moved—" That the Motor Regulation Act, 1908. bo amended by repealing sections 14 and 15 thereof, and by substituting the following:—l4. Every motor shall be registered with the registering authority of tho district in which the owner of such motor either lives or has his place of business, and such registration shall have effect throughout New Zealand. 15. —(1) Every registration shall bo in tho form prescribed by regulations, and a feo of L 3 may bo charged bv tho registering authority upon, the registration of any motor having not less than four wheels and LI in tne case of a motor having less than four wheels. (2) Every such registration when duly mado shall fro deemed to bo in force from the day on which tho same is mado until the 31st day of March then next ensuing, and no longer, and such registration shall bo again mado in like manner from year to year.” Ho said that motor-cars wore really worse on the roads than ordinary traffic, and registra-tion-foes would bo justified. Mr T. K. Sidey suggested that the taxes should be used towards tho maintenance of tho roads, purchase of material, etc. Hon. T. W. Hislop (Wanganui) did not seo why motor-cars should be singled out for taxation. Why should not buggies, carriages, etc., be registered and specially taxed? It seemed to him this was just another way of putting a tax on someone else —from tho moderately well off to those who run a motor-car. An amendment to substitute L2 for £5 registration fee was carried by ”27 to 22. A further amendment by Councillor Fletcher to reduce the feo to £1 was lost.

Mr R. T. Michaels moved that the words “per year” bo struck out, so as to make tho one feo of L 5 cover the life of tho car.

This was not accepted by the chairman.

Clause (1) of the remit with tho L2 amendment was then put and a further amendment to substitute 10s for LI in the case of two-wheeled motors was carried. In this form the clause was carried by 31 to 23. Clause (2) was amended so as to delete “until 31st March . . . year,’’ and in this form was carried by 26 to 20. The whole remit, so amended, was then approved by 26 votes to 21. IDENTIFICATION OF MOTORS.

Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston) moved that the Motor Regulations Act be amended to compel registering bodies to use initials comprising their names ns am identification mark for motors, together with, a number. This was to prevent confusion, tho letter "W” bemg insufficient Tho remit was carried. Mr Nosh further moved that all drivers of motor-cars shall be required to bo over sixteen years of age, and must bo in. possession of a certificate of proficiency as a driver. This was also approved COMPETENCY TO DRIVE.

Mr H. Holland (Christchurch) moved —“That borough councils be enabled to pass by-laws prohibiting any persons, male or female, from driving motor-cars until they have obtained a certificate of competency.” He said a number of unskilful persons were driving cars in Christchurch and other places. This remit was approved, with tho substitution off "local authorities" for “borough, councils.” SPEED LIMITS. "That the Government be asked to make a general provision respecting the speed of motor-cars” was moved by Mr D. P. Loasby (Greytown), who urged that a proper and legitimate limit should be made. It was ridiculous to limit tho speed to eight miles an hour, as some authorities hod done.

The remit was adopted. Another motion : "That the Motor 'Regulations Act, 1908, bo amended so as to provide for the speed at which motors may cross intersections of streets and drive around corners of streets in cities and boroughs," was moved by Mr Nosh (Palmerston), who said that at present it was left to the discretion of magistrates to say what was a reasonable speed. Mr W. B. Scandrett (Invercargill) seconded the remit.

Mr H. Davis (Ashburton) suggested that notice-boards should be placed in the streets stating the speed limit. The remit was carried. POWER FOR BY-LAWS. The conference also approved a suggestion by Auckland that local bodies should be given greater power to make by-laws dealing with speed, competency of motor drivers, brakes, etc., in respect of ail cars, private or plying for hire.