CHAFFEURS IN JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1920, Page 9

CHAFFEURS IN JAPAN.

REQUIRE SPECIAL LICENSE TO "BACK UP". i How would you like to ride in a motor bar with a Japanese chaffeur at' the wheel who hadn't learned to "back up"? A good many people actually do that in the land of kimonee and wooden cloge, according to Everard Thompson, the Firestone Tire Man now travelling in the far East. \ "I had the rather embarrassing experience" writes Mr. Thompson, "of riding behind one of this kind. He had taken me into a narrow street in the native section of Tokio, and at a turning met another motor driven by the same sort <?f a chaffeur. The mudguards of both cars nearly touched the toy houses on both sides There was no room to pass and neither driver had learned the art of backing np. They were both like good soldiers —trained to advance and never retreat. I played the hero on this occasion, took the steering wheel myself, and finally got out of the pocket. Never having heard of this peculiar species of motor driver I made investigations later on and learned that the Japanese Police isßue two kinds of licenses—for the police have authority in all such matters. A driver doesn't have to know very much to get his fir3t license —or "Half license." This permits him to drive a car in the streets of the city in a straight ahead direction. But if he wants to turn round he must make the circuit of the block which may be half a mile or more. By and by he becomes more proficient, and then submits himself to the police authorities, who give him a second examination. The candidate must show himself thoroughly familiar with the reverse gear, and to be able to back up long distances without hitting a tree or a tram car. Then if he can prove himself he.gets his "final license" and becomes a fullfledged "No I driver" to the great envy of the "non backer". I made it my business after my first debacle to inquire, when I went driving in Jap'an, whether my driver was a "half" or a "whole" one. It is easy to imagine a case where the unfortunate passenger, in a motor driven by a half chaffeur, might, like Tennyson's Brook, have to "go on forever". The Japanese make fairly good drivers, however, although they do not seem to quickly catch the idea of speed and •distance. They drive too much on the ' brake. I have sJeeu some excellent drivers in the Mikado's Empire, but they | are rather the exception. The pay of a ! first-class Japanese chaffeur is from fifteen to twenty yen a week, which means approximately £1 10s to £2 sterling. Speeds are not very high, the police holding motors down to about 20 miles an hour, excepting in the country where they permit 25 miles an hour and even 30. But if you ride a Japanese road et ■3O miles an hour you know you have I been riding.