MOTOR-BUSES.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1926, Page 4

MOTOR-BUSES.

NEW REGULATIONS. LICENSES AND APPEALS. AVELLTNGTON, Alay 7. The motor omnibus regulations which come into force immediately, constitute thirteen motor omnibus districts, comprising areas in which there are municipally or publicly owned tramways or buses, as well as private buses which compete with the former. 11l each omnibus district there will be a licensing authority appointed by t! e Alinister. After July 10th next i o motor omnibus dtu he operated without a license issued under the motor omnibus regulations. A motor omnibus is defined as having seating capacity for not less than seven passengers, not including the driver, and carrying passengers for hire at separate fiires of not more than two shillings for each, passenger for a single journey. There is provision for application lor; and the granting of, tomora rv licenses until appeals have been decided. ISSUE OF LICENSES.

Before the licensing authority issues a license, it must consider the provision already existing for the transport I of passengers to places on or over the j proposed route, and. must have satisfied , itself that the condition of the roads , is such as to be capable of carrying j motor omnibus traffic without unreasonable damage to the roads, and t 1 at there are not sufficient other facilities ! for the conveyance of passengers fo or j from the district proposed to be served. I The. authority shall determine in respect, of each application whether or not ■ a license shall he issued, the places to or between which motor omnibuses, if licensed, shall run, the route or routes I to he followed, the fares to he charged. I Ihe stopping places to he observed, the I time-table to he kept, and the niaxi- | muni number of passengers to be c> rj ried. If a motor omnibus proprietor is j refused a license, provision has been I made for just compensation. Not only I is it necessary for n motor omnibus to | he licensed under the regulations on : the above date, but the drivers ol motor omnibuses must also obtain licenses before June 10th. 1920. Persons wlm at the date of the coming into force of the regulations held a. driver’s license issued pursuant to the Ai.otor Vehicles Act authorising the hearer to drive a motor omnibus plying for 1 .re are not required to obtain driver s licenses until after the expiration of three yedrs from the dale on which the regulations come into force. Tho owner of a licensed motor "’i.uibus must keep same in sale and suitable condition for the carriage ol pasI sengei's, to the satisfaction of the inspecting engineer. INSURANCE.

With regard to insurance, the liabil--1 ; ily of the insurer in respect of dentil ’’or injury to a single person, may be ' | limited to £2OOO. The total liability ! of the insurer under any policy, may 1 he limited in respect of claims arising 1 out of the same accident, in case of a motor omnibus licensed to carry seven passengers to l lie sum of £3300; in the case of a motor omnibus carrying 1 i more tlnn seven passengers, the win 1 of £3500 must he increased hv tho ! sum of £50!) for every passenger over seven, included in the max ini uni i um- ' her. 1 j FARES. With regard to fares, the motor omnibus fare in respect of passengers (allied between any places served hv a tramway must be 2d more Ilian the ornresponding tramway fare. Where a motor omnibus carries passengers '•> or from a place not served by a tramway, the omnibus fare shall not lie less than tlie tramway fare, for the portion ol the journey on which the passenger might have been carried by the tramway. . Alolor omnibus accidents must l.e iv ported within -18 hours to the A! niter. RIGHT OF APPEAL. Bus licenses may he camvii'd if I lie owner has been guilty of con hid mentitling tlie owner to hold a iicci.o . There is a right of appeal L> ai: Appei! Board, from any decision of the licensing authorily. The Transport Appeal Board for each district ..(insists of live members, into member appointed by the Governor-General, as chairman, one member appointed by the GovcrnorGeneral representing the Governmeir., one member representing, and appointi od hv. the local authority n the disI trict, which Inns established a mi mr i omnibus service, or the promoters of a tramway in the district. (If there are more than one entitled to appoint a member under his provision, the Minister decides which local authority or promoter shall appoint one menn.-er one member representing tho ieca. authorities within the district <-1 othei wise represented, and one member representing tlie owner of the motor omnibuses within the district exclu-ive ol public owners. Tlie whole of the regulations are made expressely applicable to m tor omnibuses, the properly of a borough or city council, except the provision with regard to insurance. Toe promoters of a tramway, not being a loc il amlie.’tv operating motor oninihu.'S, must com ply with the whole of the provisions of tho regulations.