HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 April 1928, Page 4

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

AMENDED R EGULATIONS. NEW DEFINITION OF TERM MOTOR-LORRY. WELLINGTON, April 2. Several important amendments to the motor-lorry regulations weio gazetted to-day. The new provisions, which are now operative, include a new definition of the term motorlorry, an extension of certain concessions, and an alteration in the licensing year. The question of speed is also dealt with.

The effect of the new definition of a motor-lorry is that every motor vehicle weighing oyer two tons with its load, other than private cars and ■State-owned vehicles, will now be liable for heavy traffic fees. Road rollers, etc., are not included. The exemption is retained in certain taxis which were in use before the original regulations were issued in 1025 and are still in the hands of the same owners as at that date. The amendment in the definition is made in terms of the authority contained in the Public Works Amendment Act of last session.

Another new provision in the regulations relates to speed. Formerly local authorities had power to allow motor-lorries licensed for the carriage of passengers or for the carriage of goods and passengers to increase their speeds by 50 per cent over the speeds fixed hv the regulations. Now it is provided that these motir-b.vn ios, which an- really motor-cars or motorbuses as defined by the Motor Vehicles Act. may travel at 50 per cent more than the fixed speed without the perj mission of the local authorities. For the sake of uniformity, all traffic rules were incorporated in the -Motor \ehicles Regulations, 1028, find the regulations gazetted to-day contain consequential repeals in that connection in the motor-lorry regulations, 1927. Another clause alters the licensing year for motor-lorries to bring it into line with the licensing year for all motor vehicles. On this occasion the period is to extend from April 1 to May 31, 1929, but thereafter the licensing year will run from June 1 to May 31.* * The concession already given in the case of motor-lorries engaged solely in the conveyance of school children, a lessor scale for licensing fees, is retained, and the same concession is extended to lorries engaged solely in the conveyance of workmen employed by the one firm to and from their work. *

Another clause provides that motorlorries and trailers of the caterpillar track type are to he allowed 15 per cent reduction in fees, ns is granted motor-lorries fitted with pneumatic tyres on all wheels. " After June 1 next motor-lorries have to have clearly painted 9" % right or off side the unladen Of tare weight of the vehicle.