MAKING OF BY-LAWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 332, 18 April 1928, Page 11

MAKING OF BY-LAWS

MOTOR REGULATIONS RESENTED PROTEST BY LOCAL BODIES (From Our Oivn Correspondent) TE AWAMUTU, To-day. The new Motoi* Regulations do not appeal to the Waipa County Council, which is asking other county councils to assist in taking combined action to secure amendments of the law when Parllament meets. The council recently passed resolutions protesting against the action of the Government in passing regulations of a nature which restrict the powers of county councils to make by-laws fixing the speed limit of motor-vehicles lor the purpose of preserving the roads, urging that representations be made to have enacted an amendment to the Public Works Act enabling local authorities to make by-laws restricting the speed of motor vehicles for this purpose. The circular, which the council has addressed to other county councils, states that the regulations appear to have been designed chiefly, if not solely, for the purpose of granting to drivers of motor vehicles, including service cars, coming under the heading of heavy traffic, a licence to travel at an almost unlimited speed, without any regard for the preservation of the surface of the road or even for the safety of the public. The regulations have practically wiped out all by-laws' regulating speed, notwithstanding that such by-laws may have been held by Supreme Court judges to be reasonable and within the powers of county councils.

It is contended that with the regulations in tlieir present form, county councils might just as well save the expense of appointing inspectors, who j will, except in the event of a very serious accident, find it difficult indeed !to obtain convictions under Regulai tion No. 15.