THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 30 July 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Permanent Peace Memorials. The Government has come in for much adverse criticism with regard to its decision with regard to subsidy for peace celebrations. As the public are aware, the Government granted liberal subsidies, on a sliding scale, on all money expended on peace celebrations, provided the money was put through local bodies. The extraordinary thing this, however, was the fact that no subsidy whatever will be given for any permanent peace memorials. Thus, if any local body decided to expend £IOO in fireworks —a passing amusement of an hour or two with nothing to show afterwards —the Government gave a £ for £ subsidy, but if any town wished to erect some lasting memorial the Government would give absolutely nothing. Surely this is a most illogical attitude to take.'up. We notice that Palmerston North has taken up this matter, and, at the annual conference of the Municipal Association, to com-

mence at Wellington to-morrow, the following remit from Palmorston North will be brought forward:—"That the Government lie requested to pass legislation authorising local bodies to contribute moneys from their ordinary funds for the purpose of establishing permanent peace memorials, and that the Government be asked to subsidise such expenditure as per schedule already drawn up. and which does not apply to memorials of a permanent nature." Of course, it would be necessary to restrict the amount to be expended in this matter, but, provided the proposed permanent memorials are of a fitting nature, to be approved by the Government, it seems reasonable that Government should subsidise any such projects, especially seeing that they have already spent large sums on empty show- and what might be termed wasteful expenditure in many centres. Motor Regulations. One of the most important matters to be dealt with at the forthcoming Municipal Conference at Wellington is the consideration of proposed amendments in the Motor Regulations, which were framed under the 'Act of 190 S. Seeing the alarming increase in the number of fatalities and serious accidents caused by motor tragic, to say nothing of the grave damage done to the roads, it is to be hoped that something will be done to protect the public. It is an acknowledged fact that many people are now driving cars who are quite incompetent to do <o. and the number of accidents which occur through incompetency or careless driving is increasing at a rate which I should be retarded by some* means or other. It is proposed to urge- on the Government the necessity of fixing a speed for highways, for towns, for intersections or junctions of streets or roads, and for rounding corners of streets in towns: that all riders or drivers of power-driven vehicles shall have passed an examination by a trsSc inspector, and that they must have obtained a license. Any person having obtained a license in nv.y partiesilar locality would be to drir« in any parr of the Dominion, subject, ,

however, to paying "any local fees which may be in vogue. If. however, the license should be cancelled -in anyone district for misbehaviour or faulty driving, the same will take effect in all other centres. It is -suggested that the

maximuij. ri-eed on ratlin streets in borough* should be }5.-ini!es per honr. witii a "redaction to ten" mites st intersections, and a farther redaction to eight miles at. «tre«t comers. It is also proposed that all ears shall be fined -"-ith. diffmirg ienies- It is sag-

gested that cars shall bo registered in the districts iu which they are owned, or if the local body in which they are situated is not a registering authority, then with the nearest body that can issue a certificate. It is further proposed that when amended the Motor Regulations shall apply to all persons ,in the service of the Crown using motors.'