MOTOR TRANSPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1932, Page 2

MOTOR TRANSPORT

RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE. MOTORISTS OPPOSED TO RESTRICTIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 29. “I am a supporter of the railways up to a point, but I cannot help thinking that there is a danger of the rights of the public at large being interfered with in regard to the development of modern transport,” said the president of the South Island Motor Union (Mr F. W. Johnston) at the anhiual meeting of that body yesterday. ■ ; Quick transport, lie added, was the life blood of the Dominion, where re was often necessary to travel up and down the country in a short space of time, for which purpose the moitor,-car was adapted. It was his belief that ultimately the aeroplane would be used for the transport of passengers and mails over long distances, but in the meantime tli& motor-ear was the dost means of transport. “Let us by all means support the railways'” concluded Mr Johnston ; “but do not let us do so to the detriment of commercial' industries in New Zealand.” Referring to the proposed v rnenicTments to the Motor Transport Act, Mr -Johnston said that many people were opposed to speed-limits in any shape or form. His own opinion, wae that if a

limit had to be fixed it should be 50 miles an hour.

Mr E. A. Bait (North Island Motor Union) said that a little while ago it was proposed t.o speed up motor transport, whereas to-day the Transport Commissioner was convinced that the speed limit of all vehicles should be reduced to 40 miles an hour. The speaker wondered why there should have been such a change of front. He warned the Union against submitting to the proposed speed reduction and stated that if it became law' it would present an admirable opportunity for local bodies to augment tbeir revenue by prosecuting motorists travelling on a highway at a fast though perfectly safe speed. It was agreed to act in co-operation with the North Island Union in opposing the proposed amendment to the Transport Act.