MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 240, 4 July 1919, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By Clutch.)

Motor Inspector's Annual Report. Mr. L. S. Drake, motor. inspector, in the course of his annual report, snys:"To tlio end of March, 1919, we have registered 4101 motor vehicles, 1731 certificates of ability, 5-12 certificates of compotency have been issued. During tin : year 136 taxi-cabs were licensed, also 124 I motor-wagons, delivery vans, and ex- j presses. Motor buses—262 drivers were licensed. With the increasing number of motor vehicles the need for annual registration and for tho issue of stati- > dard number plates by the registering j authorities is urgent. I referred to this matter in my last report, To assisr in controlling tlio unnecessary speeding on tho part of motor drivers and motor-' cyclists I havo made all tho arrangements for a patrolman to bo out on the roads; ho will report all breaches of tnu traffic by-laws that- come to his l.otice, .and, being equipped with a motor-cycle and speed recorder, he will lie, able to check tho speed of vehicles. He will also patrol tho vehicle stands throughout tlio city and see that, the vehicles thereon aro in-order, and the drivers in attendance orderly in conduct, etc. The i umber of taxis Hcensed is steadily increasing, and extra stand accommodation is i ceded. 1 am of tho opinion that the time has arrived when the licensing of any type of car for public hire on a stand sho'iild be stopped, and the type of car equipped -with a taximeter as provided for in Bylaw 21, only licensed for stand work. This does not refer to cars kept for hire in garages, but would serve to stop tho overcharging trouble, as ft hirer would see by the meter the amount of the exact fare. There are several alterations neees : eary in our motor by-laws, and I suggest the following:—That any vehicle stopping behind a tramenr leaves a space of not less than 10 feet.between motor and tram. That the word 'private' be deleted from clause 712n. narngvaph X, line 2, and from clause 713 ~, paragraph 3, line 2, By-law 13; also that the driver of every licensed motor vehicle be licens. Ed no matter upon.what work tho vibiclois engaged, whether for hire or not. For offences such as overcharging, speeding, or driving to the danger of the public, or not being sober while in charge cf a vehicle, license ■of driver be endorsed with the particulars of- the offence. The time is rapidly approaching when a scheme of one'way or some other system of traffic will hare to be enforced on our narrow and busy streets. Traffic will no doubt be diverted from the busiest streets when the road surfaces in other streets are improved. I have now obtained.a cardindex system, and have commenced the transfer on'to the cards—tho details and history of all motor vehicles and drivers, licensed vehicles and licensed drivers, also the registration of all uotor' vehicles, so a complete record of transfers, etc., can bo kept to-hand. The nrese'nt ■workshop and plant areouiteinadcquiito for the work demanded of them now tho council's fleet has been greatly added to, and I'strongly urge that shops and plant and housing for these vehicles be : acquired as speedily as possible."

The Good Roads Movement. A Good Roads Committee in.Dunedin appointed to draw uu a. scheme for submitting to the local bodies regarding the question of administration, Jins after much consideration, decided to advocate a modification of tho Victorian Eoad Board system of control, and the following are ,the salient points of tho recommendations:— (1) Establish a Dominion roade -board, which shall include experienced road engineers, and bo entirely non-political, but under the control of a Minister, who will be responsible to Parliament.

(2) The- board shall classify roads into three groups, first, second, : and third class. The classification will be made on the- basis of the relative importance of the various highways for general traffic purposes, and regard will bo.had to the consideration whether a road proposed to be classified is an important route for through 'traffic or possesses more than local importance, and especially whether the' cost .of maintenance .is considered to be 'materially affected, by Hip through traffic forming a' eubstan; tial percentage of the'total traffic, on the road. Streets in towns mainly need for local traflie, which' do not , directly form part of some route available for use by through traffic, and un which tho through traffic does not form a substantial proportion of the total traffic, shall not rccoive financial ....assistance: "from-, tho board.

(3) The board shall use their classification as a basis for the distribution'of an annual grant for road construction, and maintenance work authorised will Ix 3 carried out by the local authorities of the district; similarly the local body is to have the administration of such road in its district to the satisfaction of the board.

(i) The promotion of Hie cost, of construction and maintenance to be borne bv tho Government and the local body [•hall be decided by the board • according to the amount of .through traffic, the benefit received by the district, and the ability of tho county to pay. (5) The proportion of .the cost against Hie local body shall be met by the Government advancing a loan on long repayment terms, extending over the life of the road;- the rats of interest to be decided bv the board according to tho; classification of the road. . !

(G) The board shall serve notice of its proposals on the local body concerned, Riving •> detailed statement of its proposals. This notice fixes a date at least two months i<Head upon which to hear objections, and notices of objections are to be sirred on the hoard and other local, bodies-affected. The board, hears the objections, rind pives its .'decision, and from thp derision tho objector. may appeal to tho Minister.

Ci) \. "maintenance fund" shall lie assisted br a "tyre tax," and nn annual licenso f;o on all motor, vehicles, both of which shnll lie collected, by. the Government.

Licensing of Vehicles. .Tho proposed by-law for the purpose of licensing vehicles in the county of Taranaki came in for strong condemnation at tho hands of tho Now Plymouth Borough Couucil. The action of tho in communicating with other local bodies and organisations interested in tho proposal was endorsed. The Mayor remarked that several of the bodies communicated with had indicated their willingness to join in the protest against the by-law. It was eventually agreed that a conference of representatives cf all bodies opposed to tho by-law be held on a dale, to bo arranged by the Mayor, and that a strong and influential deputation wait upon tho Comity Council to point out tho inadvisability of confirming the bylaw. Councillor Clarke urged that the council must fight the proposal at all , costs. He stated that if a national tax woro put upon motor-cars no one would object to paying it, but for ono county to try and impose it was unfair. The subject of licensing of vehicles was also discussed at last week's conference of South Island motorists, when tho following resolution was passed:—'"llwt in tho opinion of this conference section 5 of tho Counties Amendment Act, 1915, should bo ropealod, as it is unjust and incQuitublo in its operation, and that tho matter should bo dealt with in tho proposed Motor Bill." Mr. Sargent, who brought the matter forward said that the section gavo local bodies in H'estlaiul, Ciroy, Waiinea, Inanpaliua, and Buller, and districts in tho North Island, power to mako by-laws providing for licensing vehicles using their roads, and apportioning sums to bo paid to the county funds for such licensing. lie thought that a universal rato of taxation upon vehicles should bo arrived at, and ho objected to the local bodies having this upwer-

Arterial Memorial Highway. There has been much discussion ot lalo on the' question of the construction of ii main arterial war memorial lugu. way from Auckland to tho Bluff. It has beon estimated that the cost of the work would be somewhere in the vicinity ot .£0,000,000. Delegates to tho annual conferonco of tho New 'Zealand Automobile Union last week were asked to extend support to the proposal, and some interesting opinions were expressed. An excellent suggestion was made by Mr. i. S. M'Lean, of Napier, president ot tho union, who ventured tho view that tho idoA couSI best bo carried into effect by improving tho present main roads. Eventually a motion was'passed approving of the construction of tho memorial voad by converting, tho present main

arterial routes into thoroughly "good roads.

Voluntary Motor Corps, Excellent work was again performed by members of tho Voluntary Motor Corps on the occasion of the arrival of tho troopship Prinzessin on Monday. It is a pity that the whole of the members of tho corps do not see their way to turn out when troopships arrive. The least, motoriste can do for the soldiers who have fought for them is to welcome tnem when they return to Wellington, ami assist in transporting them to their homes as speedily as possible-. The corps has a membership of over 100, but it is very rarely that anything like a full parade is obtained. Some motorists who have joined the corps are merely members in name, and' never make even a pretence of fulfilling the obligations they entered into when they agreed to enlist in the ranks of the corps. This is most unfair to the faithful few who their services on evojy possible occasion, and always at great personal inconvenience to themselves,, and if those motorists who appear to have lost interest in the work of the corps cannot see their way to evince , a little- moro enthusiasm, they would bo rendering a to tho remainder by sending in their resignations. The following are the names of the members who turned out to meet the troops from the Prinzessin:—Messrs. J. i\ Luke, H. J. Stott, L. E, Partridge, M'Kenzie, C. and A. Odlin, H. B. Bews, H. Smith-, B. H. Underwood, V. Riddiford, P. M. Baillie, It. Wills, J. B. M'Ewan (C. H. Andrews), W. L. Thompson, C. H. Young, J. Cheesoman, Peel, G. F. Norton, J. Vt. Smith. H. W. Lloyd, A. E. Carver, J. T. Horn, Mrs. Cameron, H. L. Friend, Union Steam Ship Company, Gear Mer.t Company, Murray, Roberts and Co., Wright Stephcnson aud Co., and Colonel Eoberts.

Here and There. In opening the conference of Soutli Isla,nd motor, organisations in Christchurch last week, the Mayor (Dr. T. H. Thacker, M..P,), commended motorists for; the war work they had done. Their services, he said, had not been recognised by the authorities in the proper manner, and he hoped thatl in the future they would possess the honour of beius; called "Itoyal' Automobile Associations." A- long discussion took place at the conference of the New Zealand Automo-bile-Union last week on the question of finance, and it. was finally decided that the subscriptions from the various asso-i----ciations and clubs bo the same as last year, provided that the delegates urgently recommend their respective associations to- supplement subscriptions by donations as fdlow:—Auckland, Wellington, Hawko's Bay, Canterbury, and Otago, ,£3s;.and Nelson, i 5. Another general meeting of delegates of the New Zealand Automobile Union is to be held iii Wellington shortly, when tho Counties' Conference is sitting. Many matters of mutual interest to both bodies arc to be discussed, including the ques> tions of licensing- of vehicles,- improvement of roads/ and a iyro tax, and it is- hoped -that Parliament will, bo induced to amend some of the existing legislation in the direction of bringing Now Zealand's motor laws into more conformity with.the views of motorists. The dinner given at the Empire Hotel last Friday night by the- Wellington Automobile O'.ub to the delegates to tlin annual conference, of the New Zealand Automobile Association was quite a successful function. Dr. C. Prendergast Knight occupied the chair. After dinner, Mr. Drake, tho Wellington City. Motor Inspector, gave a demonstration of lighting tests, which, proved highly instruc- - tivo. .

Officers.of the Now Zealand Automobile Union for-,the present year are-.— President, Mr. P. S. M'Lcan (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. P. W. Johnson (Canterbury) and C. M. Banks (Weliinuloh); "executive committee, Dr. C. Prendergast Knight (Wellington), H. J. Stott, (Wellington), W. S. Wilson (Wellington), M.'H. Wynyard (Auckland), li. B. Bullock (Otngo), and Martin Ulnar "(Wairarapa); , secretary and treasurer, Mr. W.Beauchanip-Platts; auditor, Mr. 0. Kember. Any motorist can. improvise a tube press for roadside" repairs if the followin" suggestion's are heeded:—After applying the patch to the tube place it betw'en two' blocks, measuring about 4 x fi x : 2 inches,. and mount an ordinary automobile'jack upon the topmost block. Bind a strong piece of .wire or cord (•.round the blocks and over the head of the jiick.'-. By raising the jack the wire will bo drawn tight, and produce the pressure necessary to make the patch adhere firmly to the , tube.