MONEY FOR NOTHING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23118, 18 February 1937, Page 2

MONEY FOR NOTHING

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—By March 31 every motorist and every lorry driver will have given the Government 5s lor every vehicle that is on the road, whether the vehicle is roadworthy or not. The majority of car and lorry owners in New Zealand are too scrupulous in the care of their vehicles to permit their vehicles to get into a state of disrepair, so that where a motor vehicle is road-fit, 5s will be unfairly abstracted from the pocket of the helpless victim; but no service will be given in return. All motorists are sympathetic towards the efforts of any Minister of the Crown in his attempts to reduce motor accidents to a minimum, but it is the grossest of crimes to punish the guilty and innocent alike. In 1649 a King of England, who had been guilty of forcing loans from people which were never repaid, lost his head, yet in the twentieth century we are to have the spectacle of a Minister of the Crown, through his servants, as unjustly compelling motorists whose cars are roadworthy to hand over 5s and receive in return no service. It is no wonder that every respectable motorist from the North Cape to the Bluff is up in arms. On all sides one hears vigorous outcries of protest. , . . . By all means compel motorists to have their brakes tested every six month and compel them to’ receive a certificate of fitness from a motor mechanic of repute. The certificate could then be presented to some local authority for endorsement, but the paying of 5s every six months for unrendered service is more than unjust to the motoring section of the public, which is already overtaxed. The end desired by Mr Semple would be met if all motor vehicle drivers were compelled to present their cars for examination. If the vehicle were found to be unroadworthy a fee of 5s could be charged as a fine, but if the vehicle were found to be roadworthy, no fine should be imposed. I have travelled over thousands of miles of New Zealand roads during the past 16 years, and never once have I had an accident, because I do not drive excessively, I do not drive with my faith resting solely in my brakes, although they are always A 1 at Lloyd s and when I am at the wheel I do not touch intoxicating liquor. The number of motorists charged with intoxication is only a small percentage of those who have accidents because of intoxication. , .. A vehicle is only as good as the stresses it can withstand, whether it be “ old junk ” or the latest streamlined model. It may surprise your readers, Sin but, driving at 35 miles per hour, I have frequently experienced motorists flying past me at 50 and even at 60 miles per hour. Then the tragedy occurs at the first bend; but not because the latest streamlined model is “old junk.” I hope that the Minister of Transport (Mr Semple) has the privilege of reading this letter, after which the method of the proposed administration of the forthcoming tests may be modified.—l am, etc.. Dunedin. February 17. Logistes.