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Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1925, Page 2

Questions relating to the regulation.governing the licensing of drivers were also dealt with by Mr Bollard. Under the Aft it is provided that it shall he illegal after April Ist next for tiny unlicensed person to drive- a motor vehicle. “I have circularised the draft regulations to the authorities concerned,” stated the .Minister, “and I expect to receive their suggestions about them shortly. Incenses to drivers will he issued annually, and the lee is -os. ft is proposed to make provision lor difleient classes of motor vehicles, in which case the holder would, of course, only he entitled to drive that class of motor vehicle specified in his license. This provision is considered necessary, as it is obvious that a person qualified to lied to drive another kind of motor vehicle; nor dues it follow that-a. person qualified to drive a motor-car is so qualified to drive a motor-cycle. I ndcr the regulations application ’for a motor-driv-er’s license must, if made by the owner of a motor vehicle, bo submitted to the local authority in whose district the garage is situated, and in cases where the application is made by other than the owner, then it requires to be made to the local authority in whose district the applicant resides. Bocal authorities have full power to order an examnation, il they see lit, before issuing a license, hut -the diaJt icgulations do not make it mandatory, as this, it was felt, might lie a hardship on the many qualified persons, numbers o. whom were already licensed by local authorities. A provision in the draft regulations which has caused some comment, is that, requiring an applicant to submit a. recommendation hv a licensed driver. The reason for that recommendation is primarily to give the local a nth or t.v seme guide as to the capacity, or alleged capacity, ol the applicant. A local authority is, however, net hound to issue the luen.se without examination, simply because the draft regulations provide that a recommendation is necessary. Some difficulty in connection with this reconimondatoii of a. licensed driver was found in country districts, where liitnerto licenses have not been issued, ft is proposed to postpone the necessity in such cases lor a. recommendation until possibly June Ist., by which tiin. all motor drivers will he licensed. The question of whether there should he specific forms 01/ examination was duly considered, also .as io whether there should be mu- kind of examination in a low n and another in the country. Alter Billy reviewing the matters it was thought desirable that they he lelt to the local authority ilscll to determine. Questions have been raised as to whether a local authority can charge the applicant for an examination. J am advised that it is considered the examination is part ot the procedure (,v u local authority to determine whether or not to issue a license; and. seeing that the fee for the license is fixed at os annually, it is not considered the examination is part ol the procedure of a local authority to determine whether or not to issue a license; and, seeing that the fee for the incuse is (ixvd at os annually, it is not considered that an additional charge could he made lor the exnmmitimi. If such a charge made, it might result in all local bodies insisting on ;ui examination in every case, iiob only where a first application for a liicuse was made, but in ra‘-}i .succeeding year, and this would lead to a considerable amount of incniiveiiicm e. Another question asked is whether a local authority has power to charge a separate license lee for drivers of vehicles plying for hide or engaged in heavy trallic. The right ol local authorities to continue making a charge for vehicles plying for hire or engaged in heavy traluc is dealt w itl by section 12 of the Act. This provision is only hold to apply to the vehicl. license, and not to a driver’s license. It is therefore considered that a person who obtains a license to drive a motor vehicle, can, subject to tile provisions of siicli license, drive such motor vehicle without further license. ’I Ids, however, is subject to any particular Act which might be affected, such, for instance, as the Inspection of Machinery Act, which requires a license in certain cases. The regulations dealing with the licensing of drivers have not yet, as I have indicated, been finally made. It is hoped, however, to have them ready for issue before tbe end of this mouth, in order to give local authorities the necessary time to have the various forms printed. Regulations dealing with other phases of motor control will lie drafted as noon as possible and submitted for the consideration of those interested.’