MOTOR INSPECTION

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20125, 22 February 1937, Page 3

MOTOR INSPECTION

MINISTER’S RULING. ASSOCIATION’S MONOPOLY. NON-MEMBERS EXCLUDED. Under new regulations all motor vehicles will have to be inspected twice a year, and will not be allowed on the roads unless they are in a fTt state. The regulations will come into force on March 1, but as the preliminary work cannot be completed by then it is said that “a sensible margin of time will be allowed.” Wishing to obtain the necessary authority to do the work of inspecting vehicles, a large business firm in the Waikato which has a modern garage and an expert staff, wrote to the Commissioner of Transport on January G and asked that it should be listed as in inspecting unit.

A week later the Acting-Commis-sioner replied:—

“The Minister of Transport has decided that only members of the Garage Proprietors’ Association shall be permitted to issue warrants of fit-

“The members of the association whose garages have been classified as

‘A’ grade garages will receive ap proval without an inspection, but Hi

garages of llie oilier members will be inspected by an officer of this department before official approval is granted.”

The firm then wrote asking that arrangements should he made to have the garage inspected “in order that you may grant your approval for the company to issue warrants of fitness.”

The replyswas to the effect that the Garage Proprietors’ Association would shortly “be advising its members of all relevant matters in connection with the issuing of warrants of fitness, together with details of the manner in which formal application will be made for approval.” The letter' added that a fee for inspection would be charged and thig must be forwarded “together with the application form which will be supplied to you by the Garage Proprietors’ Association.” Ministerial Decision. The fTrm replied that, as it was not a member of the association, could it look to the board for details direct. To the letter the Acting-Commis-sioner replied:—“That the Minister of Transport has decided that only those garages, the proprietors of which are members of the New Zealand Garage Proprietors’ Association, will be eligible for official approval to issue warrants of fitness to motor vehicles. If, therefore, it is your desire to issue these warrants, it is essential that you first become a member of the above association.”

The board was informed that the firm had no knowledge of such an association and asked for the address “in order that they may he communicated with, with a view to ascertaining what benefits than can confer on members, or the public generally.”

A further letter stated that the matter had been considered by the directors:—“As it was considered that the policy laid down by the Hon. Minister of Transport should be made public. My directors expressed surprise at your communication, and desired me to advise you, in order that you may convey same to the Hon. Minister of Transport, that they strongly protest against the condition that a properly equipped and qualified garage should be compelled to join an association before it may receive official approval to issue warrants of fitness for motor vehicles.”