THE MOTOR AGE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2490, 17 June 1915, Page 9

THE MOTOR AGE

INSPECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS In the course of his annual report, Mr. L. S. Drake, motor inspector to tho City Corporation, states that- from April 1, 1914, to March 31, 1915, 429 motor-cars and cycles were registered. The number is made up as under:— 10G 5-seater cars, 49 2-seater cars, 21 lorries and vans, 1 motor ambulance, and 252 motor cycles. This brings the total number of registrations in Wellington up to 1990. Forty motor lorries and vans and 71 taxi-cabs were licensed; 158 drivers' licenses were issued (103 to taxi and 55 to motor-van drivers), bringing tho number of driving licenses issued up to 660. Commenting on motor regulations, inspector states that those for the registering of motors are very unsatisfactory, tnd a much better state of affairs would be arrived at if the registering authorities were to issue the number plates to be fitted front and rear of every motor vehicle. If this were done all motors would bear numbers of uniform type and identification would bo made easier. The fitting of taxi-meters to motor-cars plying for tiro on public stands is urgently needed, and if no private firms will supply these meters, the inspector says he would suggest that the council supply them at a yearly rental or hire-purchase fee to bo paid with annual license fee. In Sydney and several other cities the Police Department test and seal these meters. "I beg to suggest," the roport continues, "one or two clauses for embodiment in the motor byrlaws:— "(1) That no motor havo its oil, petrol, or carbide containers filled whilst OU' a public stand, and that no carbido container be emptied on such stand; also that every taxi-cab, moitor-van, or.lorry have an under-pan, so fitted as to catch all oil, grease, or water leaking from the engine, gear-box, or rear axle. "(2) That motor lorries used for carrying pasengers be submitted for inspection, with seating accommodation fitted prior, to license being issued. There is no doubt that sonn of the lorries have the seats insecurely attached. "The wooden boxes used for telephones on the various stands get damaged very easily. An iron box is really needed, divided into two compartments, the top one to hold the telephone and the bottom one to be used as a receptacle for rubbish. Something of this typo once erected would bt. permanent. "I wish to suggest that signs bo placed on the various taxi-stands, stating the number of cars allowed on each stand; also that signs stating the speed limits round corners, etc., in the City be erected on the busiest streets. Cards stating, the scale of tni-cab fares havo been issued to each applicant for a taxi-cab license. -These cards are placed in the cars. The above scales are also being placed in the tramway waiting sheds. Taxi-cabs are also being fitted with chemical fire extinguishers. "Owing to the evcr-incrcasing number of motor-cycles, I wish to-suggest that riders be made to take out some form of certificate of ability to ride and manage a motor-cycle. 1 am of the opinion that motor-cyclisti are the most dangerous fonn of traffic hi our streets to-day, and the one we have tho least control over."