MOTOR REGISTRATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 138, 17 July 1914, Page 10

MOTOR REGISTRATION.

A COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE. IFrom • our own Parliamentary Reporter.] , ' r WELLINGTON, July IS. : I A Bill Qf considerable importance, particularly to Canterbury, where there are perhaps as many motor cars as in the whole of the rest of the Dominion, is the Motor Bill, which was introduced iii the House to-day by the Hon. Mr Herdman. ' At present, under the Motor Begulation Act of 1908, a motor may be registered with any registering authority, such as the council of every borough with a population of 5000, and every county Council. The present Bill substitutes a single register f of motors for the whole of the Dominion/ registry offices being established in the principal town'in every provincial district. Regis-, tration, once effected, dpes not require renewal. Another effect will be to establish a Uniformity of marks and numbers throughout the Dominion for ; several classes of motors so as to obviate the confusion how arising from a large number of registering authorities. When i a motor is registered it shall be licensed for use on roads and streets throughout the Dominion. The licensing is annual, and an annual fee is payable according to the class and power of the motor. No person shall be allowed 1 to drive a car unless ; he is licensed, ;and a small annual -fee is payable for a driver's license/ ? It is not at present made essential that a driver should-liavc any special qualification. . The .effect; of the provision- is rather to enable the court before' whom the driver is convicted of negligent or imprppeiv,acts. to suspend., or. .canceK.the license, and by sucli means, as in England, make it necessary in his own interest that the driver should exercise care. On officer of the public service will keep the register. Practically no fee is payable for registration at presents The local authority shall receive the annual license fee. In the case of a private car the annual license is issued by the depiity-registrar of the, , provincial district within which the igarage: of the, car is .situated. Private cars use the roads to a very large distance from their respective garages, and their traffic' is not in general confined witliin the limits of any special local authority. Trade motors arid-public car* have generally less range of traffic, and the Ideal authority [ will 'be entitled to and retain the greater annual license fees paid for all cars other than private motors. Provision is made for 'distribution fees received in respect of private cars, to be .expended as Parliament directs in. the special repair of - main roads throughout the provincial district in which the garages of the ears are situated. Of fees received by local authorities from the annual licensing of all ojher motors, twothirds go to the local fund of the licensing authority, an<l one-third to the Consolidated' Fund to be v expended in the repair of roads. SCALE OF FEES. Within a certain radius of the district of authority the fees prescribed vary' •considerably and are less than those payable under the English Act. The schedule to the Bill gives the fees payable for annual licenses as follows: 1. For every motor car, omnibus or coach under 12 h.p., £2; 12 to 16 h.p., £3: 16.. to 26h.p., £4; 26 to .33 h.p., £7; -33 to 40 h.p., £10; 40 to 60 h.p., £l6; exceeding 60 h.p., £2O. A registered medical practitioner using a private car principally for the purpose of his • profession is to be charged only half fee. 2. Fees for public cars under 16 -h.p., £1; 16 to 26h.p., £2; exceeding 26 h.p., £4. ■.,-..■,•- • '

3. Fee for motor-cycle, with an additional 10/- if trailer is used. : ; 4. Fees for trade motors under 16 h.p., £2; 16 to 26 h.p., £8; 26 to 40 h.p., £4; over 40 h.p., £5: / - 5. Fees in respect of any other motor, £2. The followiug exemptions are provided: —(a) Motors used by any local body, drainage, .harbour, river, education; or fire board, if exclusively used for public purposes; (b) ambulance motors; (c) motors owned by and used exclusively for purposes of any authority of a public nature defined as exempt by.the regulations.