The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1929. THE MOTOR AGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1929. THE MOTOR AGE.

.Statistics for the. United States and oilier countries show that a very large percentage of the people in civilised countries to-day own motor cars, and the day is apparently not far distant when everybody will own a ear. Added to the privately-owned motor ears are tli msands of motorbiises in operation in cities and between various centres. a cable message recently reported that the. output of motor cars is t: he even greater, and that under keen competition prices will he reduced. In about thirty years the automobile industry has grown I'iom its very small beginning to he about the largest industry m the world. It lias revolutionised travel and eliminated many ot the hardships of generations past. For business and pi unsure purposes motors have become a great necessity, and, as improvements lut-.o been made, greater speed and comfort have been attained. For general efficiency the motor vehicles lio.ds a very high place. Engine trouble is comparatively rare, and seldom does the owner meet with delay except from tyre troubles. Even these are less numerous than formerly, for various devices have been applied which reduce lli ■ numbers of punctures and blow outs. The machines lucre reached a degree of jiericctian which is a great tribute to the scientist and engineer, and in eases of accident the majority are due to carelessness, excessive speed, or errors of judgment on the*' part ol drivers. In New Zealand the number of accidents due to motor drivers’ failure to observe proper precautions have been very large during -recent years, and though automobile associations and the country’s laws aim at a proper control of the traffic the loss of human lil,' and limb lias been far greater than it should have been. The motor is a splendid servant, hut* the mania for sp'-ed which some drivers permit to take possession of them makes it. necessary to have stringent regulations in llie interests ol public safety. The number of motor vehicles will lncie.i.sc greatly throughout the country in tin 1 future., GoUcl mads are being laid down, and these will, no doubt have a tendency to encourage even more speeding unless severe penalties are indicted upon offenders. Aiotorists who have a keen sense of their responsibilities on the roads are doing their part m discourage those who are careless and indifferent, and it is to be iioped that their influence through the associations will he felt even more in the future than in the past. As a machine lor use in business and pleasure, the motor is unsurpassed in it*-' usefulness; as a machine for destruction, which it soon becomes in the hands of the careless driver, it. is a terror to the. community.