TRANSPORT BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 227, 25 September 1929, Page 11

TRANSPORT BILL.

DETAILS of proposals. NEW LICENSING BODIES. ADVISORY committees NATIONAL control of drivers. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this clay. Tho Transport Law Amendment Bill comprises 00 clauses, and there are many important points in addition to the general summary published in the " Star" yesterday.

The Main Highways Board as at present constituted, comprises six members, who, under the new measure will be relieved of office at the end of November, though they will be eligible for reappointment. The new board will comprise nine members. (a) Two members appointed with the approval of the Minister of Transport the recommendation of the executive body o f tlie ew Zealancl Counties Association, to represent counties in the Vorth Island, and two members be similarly appointed to represent counties i,l the South Island. (b) One member to be appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport as a representative of the owners of motor vehicles, who are resident in the North Island, and one niem- {!, to be similarly appointed as representative of such owners who are Sident in th. South Island. '(,) Three other members, of whom one shall be appointed as chairman ot does not specify the class from which the three other members of SSe C will be drawn, but the existing Joard included three pubhc servants SI of whom must be an officer of the 'public Works Department and one of ii,»- a three was required to act as EnaS All will hold office for three years. Transport Advisory Committee. The Commissioner of Transport is named in the bill, as head of the Translort Department, and there is authority to appoint one or more advisory committees, holding office at the pleasure of the Crown, and for a term not exceeding three years. These members are to be"paid allowances as approved by the Minister, also travelling expenses; and, if they are members of the Legislative, their seats will not become vacant by reason of the payment of travelling aljowance only. ""Motor Omnibus Controllocal authorities from January 1, will cease to be licensing authorities for motor omnibuses, their place being taken by the licensing body already explained covering the highway district! ■ As this will bring under review unices not hitherto subject to control, the-Commissionei- of Transport is authorisesl.io issue licenses to persons who satiny''him that they were, on September ]~ 1929, conducting a motor omnibus service. The commissioner is also entitled to license an applicant Avho has satisfied him'(a) that he was engaged carrying on a regular motor omnibus service °on and before June 1, 1929, and that the carrying on of such service has since that date been interrupted or prevented by earthquake or other natural disaster, or (b) that he had for not less than two seasons before the passing of this Act been engaged in carrying on a seasonal motor omnibus service commencing in any year on date later than September 1. ■Special Licensing Authority. Another body is to be established to deal with motor omnibus services carrieil on, or proposed to be carried on, ■within two or more motor omnibus districts, consisting of (a) the Commissioner of Transport (chairman), (b) ona member appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport on the ground that he is possessed of special knowledge in relation to motor transport services, (c) one member appointed with the approval of the Minister and on the recommendation of the executive of the New Zealand Counties Association to represent counties in the North Island and one member be similarly appointed to represent counties in the 'South Island,_(d) two members to be appointed, with the approval of the Minister, and on the recommendation of the New Zealand Municipal Association, to represent borough councils and town boards in the North Island, and two members similarly appointed to represent borough councils and town boards in the South Island. Of the two members appointed under! this paragraph, for the North Island or the South Island, as the case may be, one shall be appointed to represent borough councils and town boards (if any) engaged in carrying on public transport services, and the other shall be appointed to represent other borough councils and town boards. All applications in respect of motor omnibus services are to be made in the first instance to the Commissioner of Preference to Public Authorities. Clause 38 states that, where application for the grant of a license in respect of a motor omnibus service is made by any local or public authority, or by the Minister of Railways, and also by any other person, preference shall be given hy the licensing authority to the application of a local or public authority, or of the Minister, over the application of any other person, (a) if there is no existing transport service over the proposed route or routes, (b) if the proposed service is an extension of an existing transport service carried on by a local or public authority or by the Minister, (c) if the local or public authority or the Minister satisfies the licensing authority that-it is prepared to carry on a service sufficient to meet the reasonable requirements of the public. The licensee of a motor omnibus service is to be entitled to compensation if renewal of license is refused on the ground of competition with a local authority or the Minister of Railways, the amount of compensation in the event of a disagreement being fixed by a compensation Court under the Public iWbrks Act. Motor Spirits Taxation. Provision is made for the imposition of an excise duty on motor spirits produced in New Zealand. More elastic provisions are also made with respect to refunds of duty on motor spirits that are destroyed or are used otherwise than in motor vehicles. Local authorities are barred from fixing the remuneration of traffic inspectors hy reference to the amount of fines, and »ny such existing agreement is to become void on January 1 next.

Motor Lorries. It is proposed to repeal the present express prohibition of the use of certain specified classes of motor lorries contained in section 104 of the Public Works Act, 1928, and limitations as to the use of six-wheeled motor lorries. The use of these vehicles can be effectively dealt with under section IG6 of that Act, which provides both for classification of motor vehicles and for classification of roads and streets. In the classification of vehicles the weightcarrying capacity of the several axles of a vehicle will be taken into account rather than the maximum carrying capacity of the vehicle itself. The clause provides that from the total amount of heavy traffic license fees received in any year there shall be deducted such amount as may be prescribed in respect of administrative expenses, and the residue shall be paid to the local authorities in accordance with regulations to be made under the Public Works Act. License Fees for Motors. Th sections dealing with license fees for motor vehicles include provision for a refund, within three months of registration, if the vehicle is to be removed from New Zealand. The Motor Vehicle Act is not to infringe the statutory or other powers of local authorities to make charges in respect of vehicles plying for hire. Long distance motor services arc covered by a clause which states, "Where a motor vehicle is regularly plied for hire between two terminal points situate within districts of different local authorities such motor vehicle shall be subject to such charges as may lawfully be made in respect of motor vehicles plying for hire by each of the two local authorities within whose respective districts the terminal points are situate, but shall not be subject to such charges made by any other local authority in -whose district it may ply -for hire if it does not ply therein for hire except in course of carrying out its regular service between the terminal points aforesaid." A diversion from route to deliver passengers and goods will not bring a vehicle within scope of local charges. Licensing of Drivers. Motor drivers' licenses continue at 5/, and the proceeds, less the cost of collection, will be paid to the local authority. ■= Licenses are to be issued to qualified persons, and those in existence will be renewed. As for future licenses, the bill provides that examination of applicants for motor drivers' licenses as to their fitness to receive such licenses shall be conducted by persons authorised by the Commissioner of Transport, or by persons authorised by the local authority acting with the concurrence of the Commissioner of Transport. A motor driver's license shall not be issued to any person under the age of 15 years. Local authorities are empowered to continue issuing licenses till June 1, 1930. Applicants for drivers' licenses may bo required to make a declaration as to freedom, from physical disability. Motorists from whom drivers' licenses are demanded are to be given 24 hours for the production of licenses at a place nominated by the officers concerned. Reckless Driving Prosecutions. A clause imposes an obligation in prosecutions for reckless driving to warn an offender of an intended prosecution at the time the alleged offence was committed, or within seven days after commission of the alleged offence a notice of the intended prosecution is to be sent, by registered post, to him or to the person who was registered as the owner of„ the motor vehicle at the time of the commission of the alleged offence; but failure to comply with this requirement shall not be a bar to conviction of an accused person in any case where the Court is satisfied that neither his name and address nor the name and address of the registered owner of the motor vehicle could with reasonable diligence have been ascertained within seven days. This section shall have no application in the case of an offence which has resulted .in death or serious bodily injury. A driver, who, having caused an accident to another person, fails to stop, shall be liable to imprisonment _ for twelve months, or for any other offence under this section to a fine of £20. Provision is made for review of the disqualification of drivers, but not until twelve months after the order originally issued. Motorists approaching railway crossings are to reduce speed to 15 miles an hour, and where a compulsory "stop" sign is ignored the fine is to be £10. The bill gives power to make regulations to govern pedestrian and other traffic. Another clause empowers the Minister of Transport to disallow any local by-law relating to motor traffic on the ground that its subject matter should be dealt, with by provisions of general application.