Time Curb Was Placed On Unbridled Speeding

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 674, 28 May 1929, Page 6

Time Curb Was Placed On Unbridled Speeding

DOMINIONS IMPOTENT REGULATIONS

A FORTNIGHT ago “Headlight” stressed the need for some form of national control of the highways so that the national regulations shall be enforced. The fact that three persons were killed on the open highway in New Zealand in the last week or two by motorists whose identity is unknown gives point to the suggestion that it is time the Government instituted some system of traffic control or regulation.

Tilings have come to a desperate pass when drivers of motor-ears can tear through the countryside maiming and killing in this fashion. If the Government or its advisers, regard it as efficiency to frame national regulations without the machinery to enforce those regulations then those concerned do not know what efficiency means. It is reiterated with emphasis that it is absurd to provide efficient traffic control in cities and towns and leave the open highway free to the unbridled demonstrations of sheer speed maniacs. The national regulations set down 35 miles as the maximum speed limit and not 60 and 70 miles an hour. Who is to say that a man is driving at a dangerous speed on the open highways ? New Zealand is years behind in the march of progress so far as motor traffic control is concerned, but it is right in the front when it comes to speed on the road. The Government can afford to offer thousands of pounds for the relief of unemployment. By the same token it can provide work of a permanent character for a squad of motor-cycle race track riders to patrol the highways and curb the speedsters. In that . way the Government will protect the lives of people on the roads and make the national regulations worth the paper they are printed on. So far as parts of the Auckland district are concerned the police are an inactive force in dealing with motor traffic.

The bulk of the work of traffic regulation, control and correction falls on the municipally-paid inspectors in the City of Auckland, and the nearby counties play their part in the suburbs.

GENERATOR ATTENTION A generator demands little attention, but it should have it at regular intervals. Twice a month put three or four drops of oil in the oil wells. Do not for any reason put oil or grease on the commutator. It is a good plan Jfo clean the commutator at Intervals. Crocus cloth caii be used to advantage. Never use emery or sandpaper t'or cleaning commutators.

Outside the suburbs the village constable stands at a corner watching dust-clouded cars go by. He is helpless until a crash occurs, and if there is anyone left to make a statement he gets it. When a race meeting is on, say anywhere in the Waikato, surely the police department could make arrangements with the municipal inspectors to patrol the roads on motor-cj r cles and thus tend to end unnecessarily high speed on the open road.