REGULATION OF MOTOR TRAFFIC

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14283, 27 April 1917, Page 6

REGULATION OF MOTOR TRAFFIC

The Cook County Council this afterInoon proceeded to consider the. question of the regulation and taxation of motor traffic, a subject that t"he chairman stated certa/in councillors had gone into exhaustively ' some time ago. Then, however, the Council declined to take any action. Cr; Tombleson said "he would move that the Council constitute itself iiito a licensing .authority. The overseer explained that the boroAgh collected an annual licensing fee of £5 on all motor lorries and motor busses m town, m addition to the- usual registration fee (not an annual charge). Seventy-five per cent, of the motor lorries so licensed were working on the county a-oaids. Councillors thought the Council should share m these fees. The Chairman enquired of the clerk whether the Council had power to become a registering authority. The CJ«rk • You have given that power away to the boi'ough. He suggested that they might give notice to tlie borough i that the awangement be terminated as from July lat next. The registration fee on county-owned cars last year was £36, less 10 per cent, admiiniatration. The country, however, as a registering authority, would lia.ve no I power to collect an annual licensing fee. The borough was under different law, and could collect a tax even on carts. The county could not, and only five counties m New Zealand had this power. ! After further discussion it was agreed to adopt the chairman* suggestion, to 'appoint a committee to confer with the local Motorists' Association, and to write to several other counties of the Dominion to gather information. It was iurther decided to give notice to the Borough Council of intention to become a registering and licensing authority. Tihe Chairman, Crs. Matthews, Jex Blake, Witters, Jones, Holden, Parker, and Heynolds were pointed a commtttea to further consider the matter.