MOTOR LICENSES

Southland Times, Issue 19099, 17 November 1923, Page 5

MOTOR LICENSES

the new town by-laws CRITICISED BY COUNTY COUNCIL. STRONG OPPOSITION EVIDENT. The new by-laws adopted by the Invercargill Town Council in respect of the licensing of motor vehicles came in for strong criticism at yesterday’s meeting of the Southland County Council. The chairman (Mr Bowmar) said the County Councilstill adhered to the principle of taxing tyres, but no additional tax should be added by way of licensing the driver. Some families near Invercargill would have to pay £2 or £3 per year in addition to the £1 license fee for the car. “I know you regard it as unworkable, or at any rate difficult to put into effect,” said Mr Bowmar to the assembled councillors, “and not acceptable to the ratepayers of the County Council insofar as they are affected.” He also remarked that it might be quite a good thing for the driver to have a certificate of competency, but the renewal of it every year was too harsh a provision. Councillor Norman asked why the council had come out into the country in over a 15 mile radius. It seemed to him to be unfair to the ratepayers in that area. Councillor Fraser said that the Motor Association would probably take the matter up, but the council should protect its interests. He thought it was a clumsy attempt to deal with a knotty question. Councillor Norman said he thought a conference between the two bodies would do a lot of good. The council had only looked at the matter from one side of the question. Councillor Robertson said he thought the council’s action was ridiculous. Did they want to keep the country people out of town altogether? he asked. It was unanimously decided that the council strongly object on behalf of its ratepayers and residents affected against the proposed license fees for cars and drivers as outlined in the reecnt by-law passed by the Invercargill Borough Council.