THE NEW TRAFFIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 12

THE NEW TRAFFIC.

EVEIt-IWCEEASING MOTOR VEHICLE. 104,582 IN NEW ZEALAND. ~ s NEW REGULATIONS JUSTIFIED. (Fkom Ous Own Cobbkspondbnt.) / WELLINGTON, July 10. The coming’ into operation at the beginning of the year of the Motor Vehicles Act passed session provided the first big step taken for the control of the everincreasing motor vehicle. The legislation, besides prescribing the foes which owners of cars have to pay. for registration and licensing, contained the following penalty provision, which motorists have oeeo wise to heed: — . “Every person commits a crime and is liable on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding £SOO who recklessly or negligently drives motor vehicle, and thereby causes bodily injury to, or _ the death of any person, or who, while in a state of intoxication, is in charge of a motor vehicle, and by an act or omission in relation thereto tauses bodily injury to, or the death of, an~ person. It shall bo no defence to an indictment for the crime of manslaughter that the guilty act or omission proved against the person charged upon such indictment is an act or omission constituting a crime under this section.” . The police report that the seventy or the penalty under the new Act has caused the motor “speed kings” to think very carefully before opening out into pace with their oars, and, as a consequence, traffic is very much better controlled than in die past. “Before the Motor Vehicles Act was passed,” remarked the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. R, F. Bollard) to-day,, “it was not possible to say how many motor vehicles there were in use in New Zealand. By reason of the excellent system of registration now imposed, we are. able to give the figures, and they go very much above the estimated number of cars previously given. The Registrar of Motor Vehicles, in an interestinr detailed rtum he has just submitted to me, shows that between January 1 and June 22 there were registered in the IS highway districts of the dominion 104,582 motor vehicles of all classes. That number is made up as follows : Cars 50,266 One-ton trucks 7,712 TVo-ton trucks ... Three-ton trucks ~ ... 754 Four-top trucks 646 Five-ton trucks 241 Six-ton trucks 42 Over six tons ... 15 Motor buses ... 1,015 Traction engines 305 Three-wheel trailers ... 134 T Vo-wheel trailers ... 218 Tractors 128 Road rollers - 43 Fire engines 9® Ambulances ... Other vehicles ... -. ... HI Cycles 21,132 Mr Bollard said that he did not suppose that motor dealers or the automobile associations had any idea that the figures would reach such a lofty height. He quoted from a further return of the registrar showing the number of motor vehicles of all classes registered in the different highway districts. The_ South Island figures are: —No. 11 district (Colling wood, Marlborough, Murchison, Sounds, Tokaka, Waimea), 3574; No. 12 district (Buller, Grey, Inangahua, Westland), 1314: No. 13 district (Amuri, A waters, Cheviot, Kaikoura, Waipara), 1166; No. 14 district (Akaroa, Ashley, Ellesmere, Eyre, Halswell, Heathoote, Kowai, Malvern, Mount Herbert, Oxford, r'aparoa, Rangiora, Selwyn, Springs, Tawera, Waimari, Wairewa), 12,592; No. 15 district (Ashburton, Geraldine, Levels, Mackenzie, Waimate, Waitaki)’, 6650; No. 16 district (Lake, Maniototo, Vincent, Waihemo, Waikouaiti), 1543; No 17 district (Bruce, Clutha. Peninsula, Tai’eri, Tuapeka), 6121 ; No. 18 district (Fiord, Southland, Stewart, Wallace), 5052. “Up to June 17 last,” said Mr Bollard, “the total amount received from the registration and licensing fees I am convinced that the legislation passed by Parliament has achieved the aim in view. The Act has placed all motorists on an equal footing in the taxation imposed. The motorist’ everywhere knows now what he has to pay. The revenue for the upkeep of our highways is certain and the administration of the Act bj capable officers has caused few complaints. Tlie new system has fully justified itself.