UMARU TESTING STATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23315, 26 September 1945, Page 2

UMARU TESTING STATION

Sir,-—With regard to the car testing station in Timaru, I would like to say that it seems strange that the Mayor should be continually appealing for houses or rooms for citizens and yet the Borough Council seems prepared to divert men and material to the building of a garage. The only justification I can see for a local body going into competition with, or obtaining a monopoly against private enterprise, is when private enterprise cannot or will not give satisfactory service. Six thousand cars a year on a fiveday week and holidays means about 24 cars a day. That seems easy on paper, but how are they to be regulated that way? Some days will see well over 100 cars and others none at all. suppose a man comes in from the country, leaves his car and goes into town to do his business, comes back towards night and a warrant of fitness cannot be issued until some repairs have been effected. It is too late to go to a garage and it may not be convenient for him to come to town again for some weeks. Are these municipal mechanics going to carry out repairs? Personally 1 would object; I think most motorists would, too, as I think we have all had satisfaction from our own garages. The present system gives satisfaction —the garages need no extra buildings or staff. I know the chief traffic inspector’s job would seem far more important if there was a large staff and I take it that at least two mechanics would be necessary for a start, and also a clerk to write out tickets and take the money.—I am, etc., Simple Simon.