MOTOR VEHICLES ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1927, Page 1

MOTOR VEHICLES ACT

RESTRICTION OF ABUSES. (By Telegraph—l’er Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. Amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act were introduced to-day by Govern-nor-General’s message. The Minister of Public Works explained that some of the amendments were for the purpose of reintroducing exemption of Government and local body vehicles from the requirements of the principal Act in respect to licenses, provided they were used solely for road construction and road maintenance purposes. Vehicles used lor private reading firms were also exempted by these amendments provided they were designed and uses! exclusively for roading purposes and could not be used or readily adapted for use for other purposes. Mr Williams explained that this distinction was made to prevent abuse of"privileges. Motor lorries owned l>v public bodies and used exclusively for road metal cartage would he exempted, hut those owned by private firms would not.

Another amendment exempts tractors and trailers owned by harbour hoards. Such vehicles, said the Minister, were used on a limited portion of the roads on very infrequent occasions when wharves were congested. So far as known Wellington Harbour Board is the only body that uses the road in this way. The former exemption of harbour board vehicles under the principal Act extended to all vehicles owned by the hoard other than motor-cars or cycles and this new exemption is much more limited.

Healers’ registration plates on cars and cycles must not he used on Sundays and after business hours according to the terms of another amendment. The object of this clause is to restrict as much as possible abuses in the use of such plates. Ihe Minister said this restriction was thought desirable in view of a concession to lie given bv the Bill enabling dealers to use their plates for any part of their business.

The purpose of another clause is to bring the licensing year for drivers’ licenses into line for motor vehicles, so that vehicles may he licensed and diixei.s certificates may he obtained on the same dnv.