MOTOR BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1924, Page 4

MOTOR BILL.

NATIONAL LICENSING SYSTEM. PENALTIES FOR NEGLIGENCE. AVELI.INGTON. Aug. 12. Tho Motor Vehicles. Pi ll . providing fol- registration oml en'nusl licensing ot motors and licensing ol drivers, "as introduced Li the Mouse to-day by Go-Vernor-OeVierars- message. An official . explanation of the measure states that | it "ill come into force o« January Ist. I!>_>6. Under 'Hie ©sisting system the registration of motor veheiles is elfeeted by certain, borough councils, tlmse "hose districts have a population of over 6.01)0 and by county councils. For this system of regisration the Kill proposes u> substitute a system of registration by oflicers of the public service. The work of registration "ill be undertaken by officers of the Post and Telegraph Department, and will not necessitate the establishment of another department id State. The more important provisions id Lie Hill are as under:— <, HKUISTK A'ITON ANO ANNUAL LICENSING. For the purposes of registration the division of New /calami into .provincial districts is made use of. lor each provincial district it is proposed to appoint such number of detmty registrars us may he necessary, who will keep local registers of vehicles registered by them.ln addition, there will be :l central register to be kept in Wellington, and to be compiled by the registrar from particulars furnished by the several deputy-registrars. Ilcgistration is not required to be renewed, save that particulars must lie furnished as to change of garage, or ol ownershin for noting in the local and central registers. Save in exceptional eases H is an offence to use an unregistered 1110tor vehicle. 'lnc proposed penalty is a fine of £•_>(> For every day on which the unregistered vehicle is used. A period oF one month is allowed in which to effect registration of vehicles in use at the commencement of tile Act. but dining this period every such vehicle must carry its registration number under the

Motor Peculation Act. lfiLd. Special provisions (by way of exemption from the necessity of registration') are made wifcli rcs]K?i*t to vehicles held hy deniCIS for the purposes of sale only. On payment of the prescribed fee a dealer may obtain any number of identification plates for use on vehicles while being tested or exhibited or other" i-e used prior 'to sale. ANNUAL LICENSES.

In addition to the requirements of registration the Hill requires that every motor vehicle shall he licensed nuimul-

I ly. Animal licensing is to he ellceted ! by deputy registrars on payment (it an appropriate license fee as set out in the schedule, to the Dill. The main purpose of the annual license is to provide funds for maintenance expenditure on main highways. It is an offence punishable hy a fine of £2O per dav to use unlicensed motor vehicles. A period of one mouth is allowed after the commencement of the Act. in which to effect licensing of vehicles already in use, .LICENSING OF DRIVERS. Licensing of motor drivers is left as at present to local authorities, hut i.imide compulsory. No person undei l lie age of 16 vears is competent to receive a driver’s license. The (iovernorGoneral may prescribe the quid ideations to lie possessed bv applicants for drivers’ licenses, and they make P l ”' vision for different classes iff such license. and for a different standard of qualification for the several classes. In the absence of such regulations, the matter of qualilicatio" L- lelt to the discretion of the particular local au-

thority i oncerncd. I lie license tee is live shillings. Provision is made for the cancellation of drivers’ licenses or lor their endorsement or suspension hy a Court ol Justice in cases where the holders have shown that they are not lit persons to have charge ol a motor vehicle. Miners’ licenses remain operative only until March Hist. next, succeeding the date r-f issue. ALLOCATION OF FEES. All Iccn for drivers’ licenses are payable to the general funds of the licensing of local ao'fiorilies. Other fees payable under tie Act. registration fees, aumud license ices, etc., and all fines recovered ill le-pect ot oiiencts. are made payable to Mm revenue timd of the .Main Highways account, "here tlicv arc available towards mr.inltmjine'e, hot not for constructi:)’.i of main highways. RECKLESS DRIVING. It, is an offence piinishahle on summary eniiviotinn tor any person t i be in charge of a motor vehicle while in a state of intoxication, and anv .-mcli person may he arrested without, warrant. It is also an offence piinishahle summarily to drive a motor vehicle so negligently or recklessly as lo endanger the safety of the public or of any person. If anv person, while in a slate ol intoxication, or bv reason of reckless or negligent driving, causes bodily injury to or death of any person, he is guilty of a eri|ine. and is liable on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a line not exceeding £6OO. 1)1111-;.-; OF MOTO!! DRIA'ERS.

In the event of ail accident arising from the use of a motor vehicle, il is declared to be* the duty oi the driiei to render all reasonable and practicable assistance and to report the accident to the police. Every driver of a motor vehicle (whether he has committed an offence nl - not) is required to slop, and on request hy u police coiisinh!.: lo give information sufficient to identity liim and tlie owner of the motor vehicle. It is also declared to he an olleuce to use a motor vehicle with any number or identification mark obscured. The Oovonior-Gonoral-in-C’ontigil is empowered to make regulations as to a public nature, and declared to be control of motor traffic and registration and licensing of motor vehicles. annual license fees. A schedule of tho Bill sets out the following fees payable for annual li-

Kxeniptions arc provided lor motor vehicles owned hy a local or public authority, and used exclusively lor general or local purposes, also motor vehicles used exclusively for purposes ot a public nature and declared to be exempt bv regulation. It EGISTR ATIOX FEES.

On registration of a motor cycle a foe of lUs is charged, and on registration of all other classes of motors Cl is payable. Nothing in the Act. is to exempt any person from fees payable in respect of motor vehicles pursuant to the Mutt Road Amendment Act. Iroin any charge made by a local authority itt respect of vehicles plying for hire, trom any tolls on roads or charges for ferries.

Replying to Air Milford, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Alinister in charge, said the Bill did not, propose to tax cars either on weight or horse-power. The tyre tax would continue to lx 1 collected through the Customs. Answering Air Savage, the Alinister said the intention was to send copies of tho Bill to all local 1-odies. and afterwards evidence would he taken before a special committee to lie set up. Air Lee expressed a hope ihat provision had I icon made enabling local l*>dies generally to deal with “road hogs. At present there seemed to he no suitable regulation protecting pedestrians. The Bill "'ns read a first time.

COAIAIENT BA' MINISTER. WELLINGTON. Aug. 12. “You have correctly gauged the Motor Vehicles Bill; >t is one of the most

important measures to be brought- before Parliament this session.’’ remarked the Mini-dor of internal Affairs (the lion It. !•'. Bollard) to a representative of tJio “Lyttelton Times.” “The cardinal aim of the measure, saill Mr Bollard, “is a legislative attempt to place on a better footing the control of the ever-increasing motor vehicle in the Dominion and to assist in providing revenue for the efficient working hi' t,hc Alain Highways Act, jf)22. One or two other special features of the Bill make plain the intention of the Government to deal drastically with

reckless and negligent drivers of motor ears. Serious motor-ear accidents are far too frequent in this country, amt I feel that Parliament, local bodies and the Automobile Association will aid the Government in the efforts it is making to curb the recklessness and negligence of tie- • "~ii«-htloßK driver.” Mr Bollard wont on to sav that the Bill, of which tba House bad passed the first reading, had received the most careful consideration of all concerned with |t-<> promotion of ‘bo measure “linked lip with ID..1 D .. M.l-.r \ chicleBill,” lie said, “is the Main HighwayAct. and the, passing of the Bill "il tend to help to bring that AeF wliicl Parliament has placed on the fitatnti

Bock into full fruition. Tim Hon J. (■• I Coates and myself, with the principal officers of the Public Works and Internal Affairs Departments, have b.-en considering the Bill for some Dole I past. It, is hoped that the Bill "Ml meet with the approval of the Legislature, and also of those with whom its I provisions most vitally concern.’ I Dealing with the comment made by the New Zealand Automobile Associa-1 tfion at its recent meeting, “that the I Minister ill charge of the Bill had not kept faith with motorists over the Bill, hy not circulating the measure prior to its presentation to Parliament. Air Bollard said that all along he had stated that inmicdiaely the Bill was ready for ci renin lion Ir* would scud copies lor I the consideration of the automobile associations and to the local bodies throughout New Zealand. Mt is not proper,” he said, “to circulate a Poll - to coaie before the House until that . Bill lias missed its first reading. Tim first reading of tlio Motor Vehicles Bill • was carried in, the Molise- late tins afternoon. and in accordance with my i promise I have addressed to-night a . copy of the Bill, together with a. mom- . orniidum, to all the local authorities | i and to tlie motor associations throngli- • out the Dominion. As 1 indicated in - the House when the Bill was being in- » trmlneed I intended to propose to the - House that a special committee he set up to consider its provisions. That course will he taken next week. As f copies of the measure have been sent to • the executive of the Counties nnd - Municipal Associations I have suggested i to the different local bodies and assn i eiations to whom copies of the Bill have r. been sent that tliev make any cum- - in cuts desired to their executive. Tf that course is decided upon time would _ be saved and greater facilities given ii when the special committee is considerr ing the Bill.”

cci’scs: — £ s. d. Motor-cycle 0 10 0 "Private motor-car .) 0 0 Public motor-ear 0 0 Motor coach or omnibus 5 0 t) For trade motors— (a) For every one-ion truck lilted with pneumatic tv res ou all wheels 2 0 0 (h) For every motor-lorry litted with .solid tyres 5 0 0 (c) For every motor lorry lifted with pneumatic tyres on all wheels 15 0 0 Traction engine u 0 0 Trailer :i 0 0 Other motor vehicles . - 0 0