PAYING PASSENGERS

Southland Times, Issue 21728, 14 June 1932, Page 5

PAYING PASSENGERS

THE NEW REGULATIONS. OBJECTION BY MOTORISTS. Objection was raised at last night’s meeting of the general committee of the Southland Motor Association to the regulations embodied in the recent Transport Act prohibiting private motor car owners from carrying passengers who share the expenses. It was decided to ask the South Island Motor Union to protest against the regulations and endeavour to have them repealed. A circular letter was read from the Commissioner of Transport drawing attention to the regulations and stating that it was proposed to institute prosecutions against motorists who carried passengers who shared expenses, and particularly against motorists who advertised for passengers prepared to share expenses. The letter stated that the practice was becoming more common and it was intended to stop it. The president (Mr D. J. Wesney) suggested that the letter be handed to the Press in order that motorists might be advised of the position. Several members agreed that it was important that the regulations should be given full' publicity. Dr Stanley Brown asked whether the association was not going to protest against the regulations. It was a common practice for a party of friends to go away for a holiday trip by car and share expenses, and he considered that the regulation interfered with the liberty of motorists as individuals. The president said he presumed that the Transport Board desired to prevent motoring parties travelling from point to point where railway services were available if the trips were arranged on a sharing basis in order that the railways might be assisted. He did not think the regulation was designed to prevent motoring praties travelling on a sharing basis where no railway services were available. Dr Brown said he did not think anyone would object to the prosecution of motorists who advertised for passengers to share expenses, but the regulation was absolutely unfair in preventing a party of friends taking a holiday trip and sharing expenses. He moved that the association communicate with the South Island Motor Union asking it to protest against the regulation prohibiting private motorists from sharing expenses on a motor trip and if possible to secure its repeal. Mr P. A. Pearce said he supposed the regulations had been passed to meet the desires of the insurance companies.

Dr Brown said it might be possible to circumvent the regulations by a motorist hiring his car and driving it himself, but other members said this would affect insurance premiums and license fees. The motion was carried.