SAFETY GLASS FOR CARS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 21

SAFETY GLASS FOR CARS

COMPULSION LIKELY SUPPORT BY MOTOR UNION The compulsory use of safety glass in the windscreens of all new motorcars coming into or being assembled in the Dominion is favoured by the South Island Motor Union. The annual meeting of delegates to the union yesterday decided to advise the Commissioner of Transport, who is considering the introduction of legislation to bring this about, of its views on the subject. A letter before the union from Mr G. L. Laurenson, Commissioner of Transport, set out that although the tendency is for new vehicles to be equipped with safety glass in the windscreens in the interest of public safety, it appeared that the position called for definite legislation making this compulsory on all motor-vehicles assembled in or imported into the Dominion. By making this requirement apply to all new vehicles the position would automatically correct itself with a minimum of hardship. If it was decided to embrace this in a regulation a reasonable period would be granted before it became effective in order that overseas manufacturers could be advised of the position. ■ It might also be desirable, added the commissioner, to make it an offence to replace a broken windscreen in any motor-vehicle with plate-glass. Support for the proposal came from the North Island Motor Union, which stated in a letter that certain makes of vehicles assembled in New Zealand were being fitted with ordinary plateglass in windscreens and windows. A delegate emphasised that the regulation should apply only to windscreens and not to windows. -It was necessary to have breakable windows to provide ready means of egress in the event of a car getting into deep water. .