CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 48

CYCLING & MOTOR NOTES

By

DEMON.

Whui is sorely n.eclorl ir tin* interfile of personal safely as far as motor or vehicular trattie is <• Hirerne 1 is to Mr it S. Drake, chief »»• tor inol* for Wellington) a hy-1.,w w\nc\ uHI prevent owners «.f property growing t*.'i hedges and trees in t)«" r iri* ur . h, wl’ic-h such are situated at t ie j. < t • cf two streets. Mr Drake said that the reason for such a provision was obvious. Hi !. };cy!,?c.-> acted as a aereon which pivvente. a person driving along a street from seeing whether there were any vehicles corning towards him at right angles, whereas if hedges were kept down to the height of an ordinary fence the range of vision would be extended, and

the risk of accident lessened. Restrictions of the kind on corner properties had been made in Eng j and in the interests of public safety, and there was no reason why they should not be enforced in New Zealand. Mr David Davis, ex-M.L. A., who recently returned to Australia from a visit to America, said that for 2000 miles he travelled on cement roads. ‘‘Tile iicrse is becoming extinct in America,” Mr Davis continued. '“in the State of California there are close on ludf a million motor cars. The question of finding suitable places for housing cars is causing anxiety to the municipal authorities. A ninestorey garage, to accommodate 1000, has been built at Los Angelas.’’ —«— In on article dealing with Australia as a motor market, the Autocar (England) declares that the Commonwealth needs at least 300,000 cats. Having gone through what practically amounted to an automobile famine during the war period, the paper believes Australia presents to the British manufacturer one of the most attractive fields for business, and adds: '’The island continent is a trifle larger than the American Republic, but to be in line with the Americans in proportion to population the Commonwealth should have in use 335,000 cars. Possessing far greater wealth per head than the Americans, and not having one-twentieth of the rally ay mileage of the United States, Australia reeds "these thousands of motor vehicles.” A novel test was made with motor cycles at a recent race meeting in England, where on passing a certain point the riders turned off the petrol supply, and allowed the engine to run on the fuel remaining in the carburetter. The winning machine was a 2J h.p. Douglas, which came to a standstill m 3 520 yards. The next best was a 34 h.p. Surbam, stopping at 1187 yards; and another of ’ho same make, stepping at 906 yards. The driver of one cf ihe machines decided to immediately change into top gear, arc! to drive at about seven miles per hour, which proved to he extravagant, and nci at all proportionate to the eonsumpi ion of 50 miles "per gallon HD carburetter test, as above", was a record of only 390 raids. _ — At the bounties' Conference Mr F. R. Flatman (Geraldine) moved that all motor yelncT s engaged in the transporlaiion of loads, either on the motor vehicle itse'f nr on vehicles attached thereto, be brought under regulations similar to those relating to traction engines, engaged in heavy traffic. He .-an] that there was no intention t-, injure the carrving business hill eouuri's Wanted the right, to c.niroi heavy trnllic aid limit tie load. r Jhey wanted also to restrict ir in winter. Mr •Johnstone p- inter] out that the majority of the cars no re registered in boroughs and ran mostly on o< tin try roads. The'matter was infi lled to ti c ( minty Association's

REFLECTORS ON MOTOR LORRIES, A remit considered at the recent (.'on-lilies' Conference propm-ed that all | motor lorrii s ho required to carry rollrc- ; tors. The civiirinan : "1 icge.-t b.ai we : should add ear trumpets. My experience ! is that they carry reflectors, but the drivers don't room to hoar.” Mr \V. Mun i m Hie mover, said that he v ■ - quite willing to acid that too; also that the drivers carry : spectacles. A delegate suggested that it i bo made clear that the reflector should bo j placed in a position where it would be clear J of the load. The chairman : “It is not to | bo carried in the tool box.” DIRECTION INDICATORS. I The compulsory use of a direction imiiI cater by motorists after nightfall was advo- ! oated by the Hnehunga Borough Council n I a letter received by the Newmarket Borough Council at its last meeting. A | special type of indicator, which both counj ctis had 'Seen demonstrated, was suggested I as suitable. While recognising the value J of such a device in the interests of public ! safety, the Newmarket Council decided that ! the present was inopportune f r inukin its I Vise compulsory, and tiro matter -.-as held l over for consideration at a, future date. S SOME PERTINENT OPINIONS. | A member of t.iie legal profession in j Christchurch stated the other day that he ! was looking forward wiih interest to the | motor legislation win-h is to be dealt- with j by tile iloiisG of Representatives this «csI sion. He hoped that something would be j done in regard to a medical examination i of all motor drivers, as there weto quite a number driving cars in the busy parts of j the city who, on account of the state of their health or some physical defect, constituted a menace to the safety of the public. Under the present system a person who _was subject to epilepsy or who had impaired sight, was considered to be quite capable of handling a high-powered car in the busy thoroughfares. Another point which the same speaker made was in regard to those persons who were not financially sound, and therefore incapable of paying damages to any unfortunate person they might injure. He said he had appeared as counsel in many civil cases in which a party claimed damages for injuries received through the negligent, hand dug of a car, and often ii hail been found, after judgment had been given against the car-owner, that the latter had rot the wherewithal to pay the amount ordered. ‘■There are many people driving to-day who are only nominally owners of cars, having no more than a £lO to £SO interest in their cars,” said the speaker, “and it is disgraceful that they should be allowed to maim people for life and pay no penalty, simply because they are men of straw.” Although it might seem autocratic to make a man prove that he is possessed of a fairly substantial banking account before allowing him to drive a car,, there is a good deal to be said for the suggestion from the point of view of the party who suffers injury. MOTOR VEHICLES BILL. i Motorists are indebted to Mr Downie Stewart for bringing in the Motor Vehicles Bill at the opening of the session, so that its clauses can be well digested bv all concerned before it comes up for consideration in Parliament. Briefly, the scheme of the Bill is that motor registration, etc., will bo controlled on a provincial basis, instead of by the local bodies as at present. The licensing of motor drivers, however, will be left, in the hands of the local bodies. Three kinds of registrations are provided for in the bill:— 1. Registration of the Motor.—Necessary on purchase, or permanent removal of the car or cycle from one provincial district to another, ice for private car, £1; motor cycle, ss; other motor vehicle. 10s. On (his registration the ear number is allotted. 2. Annual License to I se Motor Vehicle, on the Road.-- Due on April 1 each year. For private car, £5; motor cycle (including Tie-car), £1 ; trade motor (goods carrier), £T: motor coach or motor omnibus. £10; traction engine, £10: other motor vehicles, 3. Annual Licensing of Drivers.—Licenses to be issued by local bodies. Fee. ss. License must be produced on demand bv the no! ire, and may be endorsed, suspended. or cancelled bv a court, on conviction of cff-'nces in driving', other than first or second conviction for exceeding a speed limit. 1 l ox ision is made for the endorsement of car registrations and licenses on sale to new owners, but it does not appear clear whether the foes have to be paid over again by the purchaser, or whether the current registration fee and license fee covers the vehicle throughout the year whether sold or not in the course of it as is ihe case in Britain. Section 24. chime 5. says the “prescribed fee” should be paid when such endorsement is made, but whether this refers to the registration and annual license fees or some minor foe covering the cost of endorsement is not quite clear. It is rather an important point. " , Local bodies are given power to make ov-laws for snoed lim'ts etc and sno-d limits may also be five,] In- regulation under tne Bill. In the Bill no general limit _ is fixed, but tlm clause of the 1905 Act is repeated siipuhitbig that the speed must not exceed the limit of safety, havimr regard to the -rirnstnixrs. inolnriino- the amo-mt of t-iffic on tU- ,-o-d at the'time or that might reasonably be expected at that time. AERIAL TRANSPORT. I1m» New Zealand Arm Transport Company. ‘d'ter eon fere nee* in Welling{un. have derided to extend their operations so far as the capital city. Snitah'c machine- and men are to he sent to Wellington fhnhnLr (lie com in pr summer. Mr !*• Ts. \\ iii!uy has been in \\elhni»ton rnnfomiitf with the New Zealand Air Hoard. The company oontomnlnfes erectino- a permanent home, nrohahlv in the Hutt Valley or at T,yall Bav, and aims at commercially 'inking the North and South Islands by flights _io and from Wellington and Blenheim. in suitable machines to be approved In- i lie Defi ■nee Department. Regular flights to the Manawefu and Wairarapa are also in contemplation. Two Avros and T>. 11.9 will be sent up from Timaru, and Captain Fowler will he in charge. The North Island service will probably start this month. It lias boon decided to erect an

aeroilrome at Wellington, and to fly throughout the Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke’s Bay provinces. The company have also secured from the Dunedin Harbour Board a lease of portion of the foreshore there, where a machine will be located permanently.