MOTOR TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 255, 23 July 1919, Page 9

MOTOR TRAFFIC

.REMITS FOE MUNICIPAL CONFER- . . EN'CE. . A number of remits of interest' to motorists are to be considered ..at' the , conference of the Municipal Association j of New Zealand, to be held in Welling- '!. ton shortly. The Hawera Borough Counj cil suggests that in view of tho numerous

I accidents and fatalities due to motor /' traffic, and of the fact that such traffic f 'and its . attendant accidents arc-rapidly-' v increasing, urgent representation be made •to the Government to at once pass'legislation of a comprehensive nature in order to, efficiently control. 6uch .traffic, and provide a uniform law for tho whole .Dominion. Tho legislation proposed -is us follows:— ' 1. Speed: Fix maximum speed for highways, for towns, for intersections, junctions, and corners of'streets iu such towns, or on the boundaries thereof. 2. License to drive: Provide that no person shall drive or ride any motor vehicle without having first obtained' a license so to do (proper provision being , inado for such persons to learn), the ' license to be issued by traffic inspector after having satisfied himself: that ap- , plicjnt is.thoroughly efficient and otherwise capable; $ 3. Provision to ho made as to mini.mum age, . 4. License to .drive to extend lo other districts: Any'person holding a liceusfc to drive under tho Act shall be entitled, without further. examination, to obtain a license from - any local authority to driye any motor vehicle licensed b) such c authority to carry passengers or goods, subject, however, to payment of such tee as may be fixed by by-law and also , to police report as. to character being satisfactory. ' ' Government licenses: Licenses under tho Act to ,bo issued annually and all fees therefor paid lo and retained by .the Government. ,' li. Cancellation of license: In the i event of the license issued under the , Act being cancelled, owing'to any offence, licenses, issued by any local authority shall thereupon immediately lapse. 7. Penalties: To be on the same scale as in England. .. ' S. Traffic inspectors: To be ..appointed by the Government and bo deemed auxiliary members of and work in conjunction with the police force, sufficientinspectors being appointed to provide that an inspector shall be on duty in each borougn at least two days evory week. ■' 'J. Inspectors to prosecute in respect of all offences under tho Act. Inglowood and Jiawera desiro that the speed-limit should bo fixed at 15 miles an hour oil main streets, 10 miles at intersections, and eight at corners. The Auckland City Council will movo a resolution that motor-cars should .be registered ill the district in which they are owned, or if the local bpdy of such district is not a registering authority, rhen with tho nearest registering .authority. In tho opinion of tho Huntervilic Town Board, local authorities who are not registering authorities under the Act should receive a fair proportion of liccnso fees, in order to compensate for wear and tear, uu the roads, and the bo.ird will bring down a remit accordingly. Taihapq ■hits sent a remit, providing lor the ap- » purtionment ol' fees as 'between a registering county and the boroughs situated j ■ therein. Kiinanga and lliccarton Will ask that ovcry borough council shall bo .a registering authority, irrespective of /population, while Dannevirko and Gore / will propose that the population limit bo 30!K), instead of the present 5000. Tho New Plymouth Borough Council has forwarded a remit lo tUs effect that the Juotor Regulation Act, 1908, shall also apply to persons in the service of tho Clown using motor-cars. • Hawera intends to suggest that all cars should , be fitted with diffusing lenses.