MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2161, 29 May 1914, Page 11

MOTORS AND MOTORING

[By Clutch.]

Motor Legislation, No clue is at present obtainable as to the Government's intentions with regard to motor legislation this session, beyond the fact that a Bill will probably bo introduced and a motor tax of some sort or other imposed. Whether this tax will bo in tho form of an addition to tho Customs' duty or an annual license fee is not known. Motorists will, howover, bo interested to learn the views of the New Zealand Automobile Union on tho subject of legislation. The executive of tho union ha 3 beon considering the matter for somo time, past, and the following is a full statement of its views:—. Registration of Cars. It is contended that in place of the present system of numberim' ears— which has led to great confusion—tho British system should be adopted. Tho registrations of cars ■ should be annual, and not as now—only ono registration being required. Tho reason for advocating this is that tho provisions as to alterations of numbers in the case of the salb of cars and purchases of newcars are not observed. Thero are many cases of cars using the samo numbers'. Iho 'registering authorities aro all agreed that the present system is not effective; and that it is impossible: to' tell how-.many cars are in existence under any registering body. As- tlio registration would be annual, tho registration fee should be reduced to 2s. lid. in view.of tho annual license- tax proposed. .' . . • •. : Annual License Tax, The union is. decidedly nf opinion that if an annual tax is to he imposed on motor-cars and motor-cycles, it should tako the forni of a tax on weight, and not on horse-power, as is the rulo in England. Tho scale of tasation suggested lVas follows:— £ s. d. On motor-cars not exceeding locwt. 1 10' 0 On motor-cars between loewt. and 2ocwt. ..................... 2 0 0 On ■ motor-cars exceeding 25cwt 2 10 0 Motor-bicycles and motor tricycles of whatever weight 10 0

It is urged that the Dominion should bo divided into. motor districts —each provincial district to bo a motor district. For each district thero would bo a Motor - Council composed of the chairmen of tho county councils within the district, with representatives appointed by the New Zealand ■ Automobile Union, •, these representatives to be equal to one-half of the otlicr members, and so constituting one-third of tho council. Whore there is a road board controlling the roads, the chairman.of tho road board should be a member; of the Motor Council. . ....

TJio motorcar and raotor-cyclo tax ehonld bo paid to ,tho county council in ft'liicli registration is effected, and the proceeds allocated by the Motor Council amongst the se\eral county councils and utilised for. the improvement' of main roads. This expenditure should not be irt reduction of the ordinary rates, and of social' rates whore.such;exist, but' should supplement them. Tho Motor Councils would meet once a. year to make such allocation, and-would bo entitled to deduct ■Bay, firo per cent, for the cost of collction and'distfibuti&:v. ( -- : ''■"'' • ■ ■■ ■• ; ' '' Taxloabs and Heavy Cars. :. , : . ...'... ■ For taxicibs pljing for hire a lowor lax is suggested This is partly because the<*> would ha\o to pay a fee for their hacknej licenses and partly becauso.they' use county roods less'arid borough roads more than, prnate cars! ' :: ; " ,; '

Heavy motor-cars' aro defined in Erigland to meaa motor-cars exceeding , two 'tons in weight; unladen, , and : thoro are special regulations laid down as to the ■speed at which they may travel. This is beaause ■of the damage which' - they■ 'may do to the roads. Inthe Dominion, motor buses and motor lorries are now using tho roads' largely, and in winter make roads almost impassablo for other traffic, where they travel at a fair rate of speed. Tho Hawko'a Bay Council has experience of somo of these travelling at over 30 miles an hour with loads, whereas in England tho maximum speeds vary from 5 to 12 miles per hour, according to tho weight and the naturo of'tho tyres on tho vehicle. Tho animal license tax on these vehicles should also be fixed, but as to what this should be tho union considers is a question that rests more with the county councils than with it. ■ ■ ■

Licensing of Drivers. Tho union agrees with, tho necessity urged on tho Government by local bodies of having, all drivers of motor-cars (private or otherwise) licensed, and that Buch licenses should not be granted to anypuo under 16 years of age—with' a diecrotion to tho licensing authority to refuse a.license to anyone under 18 where it is thought that: the; applicant is deficient in experiencu or in other necessary qualifications.. Licenses should not bo granted to persons of intemperate habits or.who .are physically or mentally unfitted., The license; fee might be one for the duration of tho. license or might bo an annualfeo, in ..which case the license would.be an annual one. • Tho fee in England is 55., and is an annual fee. Tho licensing: of' taxi-drivers might ho placed on the same footing as that of. drivers, of horso cabs.. ..The Jicensina .of . drivers might .be done effectually by regulation under the.present New Zealand Motor -Regulation 'Act. ';■...' -,*■'• Soeetl. : —The union is of opinion that the present law, which' imposes a- reasonable rate of speed under all the circumstances, is better than.imposing a maximum rate, because:' • ' .:' (a.) In England the mominal rate (20 miles per hour) is systematically ignored by the. authorities. (b) It is impossible for any spectator to say at.what rate-a car is going, whereas anyone can say whether, under each set of circum- ■ stances, the rate is reasonable or • not.

Lighting of Vehicles. ' The union considers that the law with regard to the lighting of vehicles Konorally should not be loft to the bylaws of local bodies, but that thero should bo a general law on the subject applicable to the whole Dominion. Thero arc districts now where there is no by-law on the subject, and, eonseOiicntly, any vehicle- travelling thero without lights is committing no breach. The union , would bo pleased if somenecessity were imposed on all vehicles, cai'ts, drays, and carriages, as well as motors, of carrying lights in front and li.nhirxl. This could lie accomplished by nn amendment of the Police- Offences Act. Yield of a Motor Tax. There, is a hazy . idoa among many people- thut a motor tax can be mndo to yield vast sums annuallv. In order to discover tho real position, it is necessary to ascertain the number of motors-mid motor-cycles on tho road at tho present time. The defective methods of registration make tho figures of the registering bodies of little valuo as they are- loaded with machines that have been scrapped long since. A.basis-for an approximate- estimate can ho obtained by' taking tho imports for the last five years. This is a rough and

ready method, but it is tire best available. Tlio figures are as follow yiJlotor- iVltttol'- ■ cat's. evi'fes, ■ 100!) .14.9 L'O-I . IUIU 772 i»5 1011 ;.... 1524 183 ii loi- , 23w sees 1013 2913 2691 Total for 5 years ....7998 7471 These figures are a strikiag ilhistration of the wonderful growth of the motor trade. Taking the total for' the purposes of calculation as 8000 motorcars and. 7300 motor-c.wk-s, th« next point is to consider thin probable .vi*W from the tax ]>roposed by tJife Aβtomobile Union. 'The average yield per car under, the schedule. set ovi above would doubtless work out at about £'2 ss. Thus the result ir-otild lw, with the motor-cycle tax of 10s., a gross revenue, as under :— 8000 ears nt £2 ss. per car ... £18.000 7500 motor-cycles at 10s. oacli £3,7$ £21,750 What It Gould Effect, : As the expenditure hy fe various county councils, on pub-He works —sjostly: road and 'bridge maintenafl.ce~% etet £1,800,000 per annum,'it requires little consideration to see that om> the !»nviest of motor taxes that could iw clevis* ed would yield no movo tKftn it drO)> in the busket when distributed ever ite whole of. tho Dominion. Motrif trafßo is, however, largely confined to certain. main_ roads, and doubtless s-osns! moderate improvement could ' hfe eifcetcd in these with tlio funds avfiMaMe." Wliete county councils havo road Toilers, as in numbers of cases on th<S West Coast of this island, and adopt faiflt methods' of road making, it tragM bo possible for tho proceeds of the tas to be used for defraying the cost of stsee sort of tar treatment. The taf-spra?'i»R in Eltham County, for instance, worked: out at about £50 per mils, 'jfhis would mean that a tax yieldifife £20,000 per annum would suffice for the t-a-rriue of 400 miles of road, per ' nnmirti.""'Tai* spraying is useless escojjt irhore. ths .road has been roslcd' and properly consolidated, and under preseijtcottcfitisfls is admitted even then to ho only a temporary expedient. If more costly and , durable , work was proposed , the area to be treated would be proportionately less. '

In these.' calculations fjie revenue to be derived from fho tasatkm' of heavy motor lorries, etc., has be*>ti left out of consideration as no basis has been Suft posted for it, and tlie wear Mid too* of theso vehicles would iii most eases Tie confined to certain given stn*tehes of road. . Motorists who feel se disposed are invited to. send f in their vicws.tfii tlie. subject of taxation and legislation ftW9r■ally. Letters should he " addressed " 'Clutch; , Motor Coluimiij froaixstos? Office, Wellington.".

The Shipping of Cars. The number of , motor-ears shipped'- ba-': tivcen the North' and South Islands bypri.rat.oowners is remarkable. Tha-tery. steamers no.v carry ab&ut oigM to ten cars'a week from Welliitgtenio ton, ~and. 6omewhere a.to;i.t r the -'Same '. number cpmo the other way, 'flie. total 'liUmber carried both wajtfaui 'of."tho year must run "into iomothinfi .seven or eight hundred "cars. As mqfet rnotoristß-are suro t4 M-'aiifc to take theii; cars to tho other island at some .time, it may bo useful Jot them t>6 fcwow that- the Union Company allows ■ a .reduction- of- -25 per cent, -c-ff the liacftfreight if a-car is shipped down ■ soiitlv and returns -again.' To ■ get this* sion, it is advisable when 's&ipbiftß tb-e .car. to pay the ontiv.srd »n4''-inwa-ri freight in advance, less the 25 per cent. reduction on the latter, If tiro or more peoplo aro touring ■ with the'-ear-and travel up and l down in ihe-same β-teamer , with it, the reduction is 23 pflf eeat ( on both outward and return, frefcfits, -. As cars are carried on dockj as they ptne-. , tically always are, it is nceessafy for tho company to have the siii-iii's license-i endorsed aecordinglv by bhe Gofcyrinient officials, and •consequently it i-S as woil to make the .necessary a-rfa-iiftcßieHts. early.in jthe.day or.tfiet otsr n>ay have to- bo shut out until nest-beat. In the Ship's Slings. .

After experimenting v>'ith various (fe . vices for shipping, motors,, the Union Company lias adopted the: inothotl ef slinging tbo.car I)}' the wheel hubs »p:4 using two spreaderß te'tecfi the ropes well out from the sides of tho car. Sir James Mills has taken a perssnaj Inter* estin the matter, and:n.t oho tiate insisted that tho cars should ho shipped oa largo trays, which he had sjieaai'lly provided. . Theso woro found <;!nnbe.rsome and difficult, and, unless tje'Tij Was very large deck spaco ayailahjo, it *as riot infrequently impossiblo to CAd ifoqftj to run tho car off the tray. Later. 0- device for clamping tho wheels into irfm sup-"' ports was tried at L'yttel'toji, Tlik was good in principle, .as .the weight was. taken as on the road, Wfc was found te result in damago .t0.t1i0...ijr.e5.... li, is. stated that with the present ulethed aiKi careful slinging, supervised by tiio coin-, pany's forcmon of. the officer ill' 'cbafgi,.. of .tho Ipading, very little .flaAiago is f ound to result. Occastenaljj- a car' will swing roimd and catch soniettuiiii, so that a mud-guard is bent or a tail lamp kuocked off. hnt .instances of'-se'riaus damage have .been. very. rar6... . ■-- .

The freiglit is according to. overall measuromeut, and on an average a fire--eater runs at about £4 125,,. fcl, to Lyttclton. Thu3 the cost of sliipniht? the oar down and up on a holiday tsur with n party would be on this Basis, £& Bs. 9d., plus wharfage, etc. A Kttfc r«nabout, with two • nassengfrrs .went to Nelson and back tlie other day for £3 Ms. 6d., plus Ss. wharfage,: .....

A North Island A.C.U. Arrangements are well in Jiattd far the moiur-cycling conferc-iice to be held at Palmcrstbn Worth to-niorroiv week for tno purpose of fojiniiig a North Island AUto-cycle Vnpm, Bepioscntatives are expected to ho present from tho Aueklimd, Napier, Hawke's 13ar, Southern Hasvfe's itay, Oroua, Manawatu, Upper Htttf aud District, Hntt Valley, aftti Wellington. Clubs. There, is no club ia Wauga-. nui. and so far as can b© learned, no reuresentatives will be" (?.oiaitJ.g from Taranaki. ■The chief .Imsincss oil tkfi gathermg will be-the discussion of tb* COiXHibj' linn for the Union recently circutatfid 'iy tho Wellington Motor Cyclißg C'Jub. It'is proiKised that tho Onion shall control the, sport of motor • eyoifag in the North Island of New Zcalaiid,' particularly in. regard to the questions . of touriiiß, hotels, garages, repnir shops, petrol supplies, road coAipctitions, trials and speed contests, legislation (Parliamentary and local bodies), sncial rociprocity, insurance, roads, bridges, signposts, danger-marks, legal advice, ancl all matters appertaining tliere to (and luv .other objects- which, way bts sag' nested by clubs). oihei' than open events conducted by -tho nnion or by the affiliatftd dfifcs shall onlv.be open to bonn-fide matebiis- of clubs _ affiliated 'to tho wiidri.- The question- of open events ivitl bo controlled entiroly by tbe mmn. Another clanso in tbe draft previtks that no club delegate to .tbft union, or representative on tho 'eseeiitive' shafi .lvv connected with' Uir-'iß'otoV, cyrlp. tire, or accessories trade. The 'annual

payment to' the'union from, each rli-H) siiali be; is,,jn>r 'bichilht. ..::■;. ■■.;,.■.. ■'. Molar-cy.cli.ng Nates, - ; . ; **;";;"'' ■- ; ■..>: .\}oml.K.'!-s of-'the , ■■Wollmgton Mutov-'l Cycling C'hih last ' wt ; efe-«ii(i '..coutirtm'tl ' t)ia K'jod ivork uf oroc-tmt; ;m tiio roads' aftnmsl iho niy. fcjoinotiling ove* Ml' a vloKoii ' clLrectJoßboards «;ero put in posifieu in I'etoiw! siiitl the tmvvM- Ihitt, nitirlniig tlio roaJs i<\ Eastbaui'Mn, Haywards, tli-o main road. <?tc. Ttte work will be {Wshcd iilreUfl with yiis<)*,ir. . To-nionwv the club is holding speed b.-iiiis at Jlatai Rami, Mirainar, in con* neoi-ion with tins Sutberknd ani Raa ki»e cup competition, ■ and a laig<? entry is expcclpd.- Scst week there ivill be a speed'iudging comitetitien on more ambitious lines than the previous one, anil m June 24 the club will lioW a musical evening, "AJclnburs of the club ar-n co-operating .with tlio roinmittC'C of the Automobile Association, whkh is rising the spots for tho ercrtion of dsngor^paets. ■Moter-o.wlist-3 report that tlae road between Otaki and .Tβ Horo is very htwapy ami eovored nvitft big stones. ■ A navel cmcrjjoncy , motor-cycle ohemic-al fircßflmne Jras recciitjj , been adopted by Oklahoma City {U.S.A.), for tjao use of tte lire brigade bsfote the horse-drawn ehfemiqal cngiiie ar stca.T3| ftre-'smgi.ne. can : i>e iitiSisetl, The roncliiiio ea.ri-fcs two extinguishers, ono each skte of tl.ve Mar whee-1.

At the itistance of tlio "Blotor Cycle," the Cempct-jMons Committee of tliG British A.0.0. is OTganising a social trial for colonial models to be heW in the early winter or late autumn (Septcniber-Dccottbcr). It is aot so much the-inbation to include abftoftnal j as abnormal surfaces, for it is roCOE«isetl that witji »odeni eiigiiws and '.djanae-siw&d {scaTs aUtiast any statjflartl mqrhine Will climb any hill «i wl/ieh the wheels cftn . ebttin' n grip. The abject- is- rathe* to disc-ovtr "niU- ■ chines capably of lifefrotietiirg the ronghest' surfaces, find which have Sufficient gi"oSi!-d eleavatteo to -Miiible thorn to escffifle .defitnictien of the. base ekiffik? er gem , froTii pi:ojee-ting stones ani nieces of. rock.

Hints, tips, and Queries. j "New Chum" asks for inftanation as to a st-ajidard work on motoing. Hera are idaiy of these now on the iftarket, but among ttoss most readily obtain* able 10.ea% -.aro 'i'Th-e Hand* book" (Ss.) afid.'The Sfotoi- llaiiua!" (25.), published respectively by tiio "Autocar", and the "'Motor,"" awd also I Professor Spooner's "Motens and JMotering" (35.), a new edition of which . lia-s Jiis't coeo atlt. Ail these give gsoti flescriptiGHs of tbe ffleffjianism .of' apiotqi', and a,lsa ittfoTiattieji as to lacatiiig faafe awl mneslyirttt them, An Jftyai'uaWe KttJe baak is the "Autocar's" "Mints and Tips' for Antc-moMSiirts'' (M\. Tliis centams t-lw best of the Wats and tip? sent in to the "Autocar's" wel'l-icnOWn column f and is a mass of useful infor'tnation, riipehantnal and. otliP-rwke. ■ Other handbooks swft I "Tho 3-lainienonee of Motors" {*Is.), "Faalts and How to Find 'flifera* 1 (35.), arod /'Tlie Motor Mechanic's Handbook'' (Si,). Theso deal with ru.uni.fig treublcs; aiid each l : ia-s its metris, : JKetf lang can an ejigjua bo- safely :.altewcd te.'ran wit Wat overiaawlsig? :p& point- Js distesed in this wook's .' "JVfofcor,"- There, is., o,f course, no jn-

Ijufc njost engines requiTO i • foMe attenHoh gnce in dOflf) at ' loait. If tho powof keeps tip to tho mark, and th-oreirno kiioclt .-or ftbttof- ' ip.nl ttoktj them is- ,, no ssasoa why a foftger period should -not-elapse; itodt Jfepafe tn the 'engine-is- driven ( aa'd ' handjoi gewerally, swooflrHcsj" of njtt-ping and. aiSBHCo' of Bdiso are farosura-Mc Jndfeatioßs, jin wfeoji .theiff.is-. no- -obriaua iscapo tor iin- 1 jiroyfimcrtt ■ them is noftiiig to be gained m taking an engine to pieces..;- ■ A.tisffhil tip for .Keeging Va-rm* jb'tW ftoriji D-pon scats of c.nrs in sold Weather conies to hand Uy; this wilt's nid'il. it as to remove a narrow strip of the floor, lraard-s, a,s is-regularly .done' diassfe testers in England in winter If. lib* legs bo then esteH<fcd so that the heels ijTo just orer this space, as soies.'a's'tjie eat rtarts a eurreiit of tot ili-r Khieh fl.is'passed ttoongh tho r.idiato/r and , along tbe-«ngtee. titshos througti this spate,, filling Ife skirt of 'the ■ flssson* eors overcoat like a balloan, keeping ■ the legs, and irv fast the whole botly ; tfiiite warn, fho dotoohabfe board sheuM fiot bo Jmnf.odiatdj' over the fly--1 tsiicfil, e? one majr find- oil t-hrow-n ' tboTcifoa o:n to -one's .boot 3, ; . If you. want to keep yew iyrft Ml! I dettn soo that your ridels *fl trficJi 1 properly. If there is undue- weftr ofi ofto ■*nwi- efity' it -ahotild. be «a.fefuli.y exam* iiifld to- _seo v tlwt it- js running trn-ei A slight, kink in tie 'steering rod after * collision. i,s to throw <itw, of the wheals <mt of line. Inetruetions for i testing wheal alignaicnt can b* oWain- [ os in any motor mattual.

H-6rs grief There. Legal ligbtiog iip time: to-day, 4.31 p.m.; aest Friday. 4,2.7 }),m. " 'iho motor bus i$ in evidsiwo on tVio west Ooast There arc, two in ffroymeuth rushing tf eci'rice from tlio centre cf -&L& fawji to Karofe, two miles out. At HokUika p, eerviid has just ken started to atwekcB|il». I'BB. : \ ? The proseflt Worn in the light twoseaicr car m "Bfita-in is cnUpjfjg motor to. efrnsife frliethep there, wil be a tnairkct foir a jiglit fbur-seater ,it a.©two fceWeen #200 and £250. Several of % Wading Kght ear a,ro now .turning oat their cars iviih a threesaater bod;?, thfl tlitd «-oat beiftg at the i»ar, but be-ntatb thfi tiood. .A : n interostiag Jftaficf has hceii is«aed by the Bc-adfs Improvement •Assrtßisiion. IS Dartmowth- Street, Wostiniasteti LoadpM,- S.W.,' aititka "Xotes Upon Tar Treatment of B<y»3 Surfaces." The Austrian. Ministry of Wsr is offering a prize tit £2080 for' the. iliveßtioii of m elastic non-rubber ,tyre fop Bwtor lorries. Iβ that kiid of viaradoxes.. a charge of esceeding* the speed limit was recently brought a chattffeUr at Cairo, sai tho pojiceirjaa who was. tlitt witness fer the prosecution affirincfl tfet. tAe def&ndant was going vtry fast tin first speed. Jhe EhauffMr paintnd out tfea impossibility of esoeeditig ihe sjywd Haiili on first. In the result tile chauffeur wits acquitted anil the polieein.aa flnea £2! . ■ ■

A looallvHaWDed E%lish light tsar (S-10 Li-p.), *Wdi rocea-tly *emt up to Anckku'd and hack vk Nap-kr, lias just returned frdm a Jo-nriwiy from Kelson to Jlo!f«ilca and back. The owner seems t.e .have' !ic«i> umtSually lucky as betli trips ffWe aade tvititout a ptmeture. An Amftric-an pentempfirary, ""M&itit Agtf," TOjentl:y piiMkhod an , article to ■shoiF thfli; tlw i first motor-car :i .steam vehicle .nsada h) Wisconsin in 1871. Curiously'ejio-ugb this- vejiicfc, tic authenticity -of. wlikli there ap* p»ari< no resßejsabte doviht, was uaniccl rao "Spark." 'i'jic- idangor fXists u;{iich the WoUiftßtoii Automohilo Association is about to ««t a.rouml Woßinftton nre cempWtecl, an<] it is- |)ossis)To that a lonr will be miiifc this wfiA-oml to (Jecitlfi -on tfio jj'sact spnts at whfeli the first batch of posts will lie fifectod. The Grccnstono Company, -whish is workina the Kumnra, oh tfco West Coast, will shottly have it Leyland motor lorry ranniftg out to ite property,