FITNESS OF CARS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 209, 20 September 1937, Page 4

FITNESS OF CARS

Motorists Rush to Secure Certificates EXPIRY DATE NEAR A Tush to secure certificates of fituess for motor vehicles before the expiry date at the end of this month has already begun in Hastings and Napier, and is likely to be intensified in thto' next fortnight. Some of the larger garages are at present i&suing a number of certificates every day, bnt later in the month the volume of the applications will be mueh heavier. Certificates are valid for six months, so that all owners whose cars passed the necessary tests before the end of last March are required to obtaio fresh certificates before September 30, although those who have purchased cars and obtained certificates for them smce last April will not be required to renew them until six months from the date of issue. This will mean that many thousands of cars now in use will have to be examined before the end of this month, and a last-minute rush is anticipated by garage proprietors. In the last few days there has been an increasing realisation by mQtorists of their obli-ga-tions, but it is estimated that fewer cars have been examined up to date than at the corresponding period in March. Comparativcly* few defects, coning within the regulations under which cer* tificates of fitness are issued, Jiave bgen discovered in motor-cars tested so far this month. There have been iso--lated cases in which steering assemblies have noeded complete overhauls, and bralces have required attention, but for tbe most part inioor adjustments are all that have been required, Most motorists witfi aiiy qualins about the efficieney of their cars had them attended to last March, and there has been comparatively little deteriora* tion since then. Headlamps are still a sourco of trouble on many cars. Few motorists realise the need for reguiar attention to the setting of the lamps, which qan be spoile'.d by even a slight jolt. ^ As a result most cars" brought in for inspection have had to have the lights reset by the garage staft's, a matter which usually occupies only a few minutes.