DERELICT CARS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 287, 2 September 1942, Page 4

DERELICT CARS

Danger In Wellington Streets At Night CHIEF TRAFFIC OFFICER’S

COMMENT

“Derelict cars, abandoned by their

owners in the street, are not only a nuisance; they are a positive danger,” declared Mr. L. 8. Drake, chief traffic officer, when consulted yesterday about the position in WellingtoTi. He was told that there were three unregistered derelict ears in one street, and said he knew where there were nine in two neighbouring streets. When asked what he was going to do about it, he replied that lie had reported on the position ten yeaiw ago and still had not been given any power to deal with it.

“Since -the -war it has become worse,” said Mr. Drake. “Young fellows who had paid perhaps £8 or £lO for a car and had a run round in it, on being called up simply abandoned it. Their troubles what became of the car! I reported on the matter, and the city solicitor ruled that one could not interfere with another person’s property. Then I was told to consult the police, and they went into the matter, with the same negative result—the car was somebody’s property. There was the classic case of an old Ford car, which we placed in our yard. It stayed there unclaimed for month after month. One day I went round and saw that an axle had been removed and bolts loosened to remove other parts. I kicked up a row, and the next morning I found that the axle had been replaced. Still, there we were with the car, which was taking up room, just as these derelict cars are in 'the public streets.

“We even went to the Commissioner of Transport, and he consulted the Minister with a view of putting through legislation to enable us to deal with the situation, but the Government did not act. -Meanwhile residential streets are becoming cluttered' up with these cars, and we lire helpless to deal with thqm, If the Government would only give us power to impound them, the streets could be cleared. Then we could advertise that a car (described) had been impounded, and that, if not claimed within a certain time, it would be sold or dumped. That at least would give us power to clear the streets from what, in these black-out nights, is a real danger.”