Third Party Insurance

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 486, 16 October 1928, Page 6

Third Party Insurance

Compulsory Scheme Commences Next May Details of the compulsory thirdparty insurance scheme which it is proposed to bring into operation when the new number plates are issued next May, have recently been announced by the Government. I The scheme provides for £1 being: collected from every car owner when he itpplies for his number plates, and the owner may nominate the company whom he desires to receive the premium ’ from the Registrar of Motor v' ehicles. This insurance will be inseparable from the car licence, i.e., a secondhand car changing; owners will always carry the same insurance until the time for re-licencing is reached. The compulsory policy is intended solely to protect owners of other vehicles, or pedestrians, from loss in the event of an accident caused by a motorist of low financial standing. The policy will not cover passengers in the insured’s car. The motorist who has few resources is benefited to the extent that he will not be ruined in the event of a judgment being given against him. BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC The introduction of this policy means that every car in service is covered sufficiently to permit its owner to make reparation for the loss or incapacitation of a breadwinner. Too often, at present, a second-hand car is bought for £3O or £SO by a person who is not in a position to aftoril any more money on his motoring. Having spent all his available money on the car, this motorist may. and often does, "trust to luck” on the insurance. The dangerous results of this poverty and carelessness can well be imagined. ARGUMENT AGAINST COMPULSION ,/The argument that has been, most used against compulsory third-party insurance is that this poorest class of motorist is liable to show no consideration for other road users once he has the assurance that his policy will cover any damage that he might contended in this direction that the almost - penniless motorist is naturally cautious when lie knows that he may lose even his small savings. This is obviously a matter for education by the automobile associations.

CAR BATTERIES AUCKLAND ASSEMBLY FROM BRITISH MATERIALS It is not generally known that one of the car batteries at present on the market is assembled in Auckland. The “Tudor” battery, distributed by Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., is made from the finest British materials, assembled into complete batteries by a staff of experts in their service station in Rutland Street. The plates, the most important elements, are manufactured by the Tudor Accumulator Company, of London. The company is one of the oldest English battery manufacturing concerns, and its products are referred to in many technical journals as a standard for basing comparisons. Tudor plates are thicker and heavier than those commonly used. The pasting process is done in a manner known only to such experienced makers, and this ensures particularly long life. The terminal posts are of the screw type, fitted with recessed rubber washers preventing acid leakage. The separators used in the Tudor aie made from selected cedar wood treated in a manner to prevent cracking and short circuiting. The motorist is warned against using doubtful makes of acid. . , , The Tudor is assembled in a standard one-piece hard rubber box of lasting quality, suitable for all American and English cars. it is pointed out that with the Tudor battery it is possible to inspect every part before it is sold to ensure the extra service expected. 30,000 CARS MISSING DORMANT REGISTRATIONS Oi! the 176,607 motor vehicles registered fn New Zealand up to the beginning of August, nearly .30,000 Are not in service, and the Dominion s fleet consists, therefore, of about 147,000 vehicles with current licences. The registration of a car, commercial motor, or motor-cycle is kept on record for the life of the vehicle, and it is thus possible at annual licensing periods to ascertain the number of cars for which new number plates are not taken out. These unlicensed vehicles include many thousands standing in used car garages, while a large number has been condemned by their owners for all time. In some cases the cars have been broken up or destroyed, and the owners have failed to report their elimination. This number is small, since there is vet no systematic “junking” in New Zealand, and the abandoned car, minus, a few useful parts, is generally left in some neglected corner. At the beginning of August, 1925, a few months after the inauguration of the licensing - system, there were 110,160 motor vehicles on the register. Three years later, on August 1, 1925, the total was 176,607, an increase of 66,447. During the same period, however, 29,703 vehicles passed out of service, and these registrations are dormant. The actual increase in vehicles on the road in the three years is therefore 36,744. In the future it will be possible to arrive at some conclusion regarding the average life of a motor vehicle in New Zealand as disclosed by the fate of these motors for which the licences will never be renewed. After allowing for resurrections, it appears that at least 10,000 vehicles are passing out of service annually. In this alone there is assurance of a substantial replacement market.