MAY 17.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1649

Regulations under the Motor-omnibus Traffic Act, 1926,
relating to the Design, Construction, and Condition of Motor-
omnibuses.

CHARLES FERGUSSON, Governor-General.
ORDER IN COUNCIL.
At the Government Buildings at Wellington, this 10th day
of May, 1928.
Present:
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE J. G. COATES, P.C., PRESIDING IN
COUNCIL.

IN pursuance and exercise of the powers conferred on him
by section eighteen of the Motor-omnibus Traffic Act,
1926 (hereinafter referred to as "the said Act "), His Excel-
lency the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand,
acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive
Council of the said Dominion, doth hereby revoke the Motor-
omnibus (Constructional) Regulations, 1926, the Motor-
omnibus (Supplementary) Regulations, 1927, and the Motor-
omnibus (Constructional) Amending Regulations, 1927,
published in the New Zealand Gazette of the twenty-first day
of December, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-six, and
the twenty-sixth day of May, one thousand nine hundred and
twenty-seven, and the thirteenth day of October, one
thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven respectively, and
doth hereby make the following regulations in amendment
thereof or in substitution therefor; and doth hereby declare
that this Order in Council shall come into operation on the
first day of June, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-
eight.

REGULATIONS.
GENERAL PROVISIONS.

1. THESE regulations may be cited as the Motor-omnibus
   (Constructional) Regulations, 1928.
2. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise
   requires,
   "Body" includes all that portion of an omnibus designed
   to seat the passengers, driver, and conductor (if
   any), and to protect them from the weather :
   "Chassis" includes all that portion of an omnibus
   exclusive of the body and body fittings :
   "Omnibus" means a motor-omnibus as defined by the
   said Act :
   "Seat" includes a single seat or a row of seats adjoining
   one another, whether divided by sides or not :
   "Wheel-track" means the distance between the centres
   of the off-side and near-side wheels of a pair of
   wheels, and, when a pair of wheels consist of twin
   wheels on the off-side and twin wheels on the near
   side, means the distance measured along the axis
   from the centre of the off-side twin wheels to the
   centre of the near-side twin wheels :
   "Continuous-cross-seat omnibus" means an omnibus
   which is fitted with seats the greater number of
   which cross the full width of the body and from
   which for at least every other row of seats a door-
   way is provided.
3. (1) Every omnibus licensed under the said Act at any
   time before the 1st day of August, 1927, shall comply with
   the conditions and requirements contained in Part I of these
   regulations.
   (2) Every omnibus first licensed under the said Act after
   the 1st day of August, 1927, shall, save as hereinafter
   provided, comply with all the conditions and requirements of
   these regulations (whether contained in Part I or in Part II
   hereof).
   (3) Every omnibus which is required to be licensed under
   the said Act by reason of the addition to the area of a
   motor-omnibus district or the constitution of a new motor-
   omnibus district subsequent to the 1st day of August, 1927,
   shall comply with the conditions and requirements of Part I
   of these regulations unless it is licensed for the first time later
   than nine months after the addition to or constitution of the
   motor-omnibus district as aforesaid, in which case it shall
   comply with all the conditions and requirements of these
   regulations (whether contained in Part I or in Part II hereof).
4. (1) The Minister of Public Works may in special circum-
   stances, and subject to such conditions as he thinks fit to
   impose, grant exemption in respect of any omnibus from the
   provisions of any of these regulations, and may extend such
   exemption so that it may be applied at the discretion of the
   Inspecting Engineer to all omnibuses of the same make and
   model plying under similar conditions.
   (2) Application for such exemption shall in every case be
   made by the owner (or intending owner) of the omnibus to
   an Inspecting Engineer of a motor-omnibus district within
   which the omnibus is operating or proposes to operate, and
   shall state fully the grounds on which exemption is sought.
   The application shall state the name of the maker or makers
   of the omnibus, the chassis number, the engine number, the
   seating-capacity, the registration number under the Motor-
   vehicles Act, 1924, and any further particulars that the
   Inspecting Engineer may require.
   (3) On receipt of an application for exemption, the In-
   specting Engineer shall consider the same, and, if in his opinion
   it is frivolous or is based on trivial grounds, he may dismiss
   it without reference to the Minister.
   (4) The financial circumstances of the owner shall not be a
   ground for application for exemption under this regulation.
5. For the purpose of the Motor-omnibus Traffic Act, 1926,
   an Inspecting Engineer may, at his discretion, make a report
   that an omnibus is in a fit condition to be licensed as an
   omnibus, save that certain requirements of these regulations
   require to be fulfilled, and in such case shall, by his certificate,
   state such requirements and fix a time limit or limits within
   which all or each of such requirements shall be complied with.
   The licensing authority may thereupon, in pursuance of the
   said report, issue a license in respect of the omnibus, subject
   to the condition that the said requirements be fulfilled within
   the said time limit or limits.
6. Every person who, for the purpose of these regulations,
   makes any statement or supplies any information that is false
   or misleading in any material particular, or who otherwise
   than in accordance with an order of exemption made under
   clause 4 hereof, or permission in terms of clause 5 hereof,
   uses for the purposes of a motor-omnibus service any omnibus
   that does not comply with the provisions or requirements of
   these regulations, shall be liable to a fine of £10.

PART I.
Regulations applicable to all Licensed Motor-omnibuses.
Doorways.
7. (1) There shall be fitted to each omnibus at least two
doorways for entrance and egress, one of which shall be
situated at least 7 ft. distant from and, if not at the extreme
end of the omnibus, on the opposite side of the omnibus to
the other doorway or the most remote one of any other door-
ways.
(2) One of the doorways need not be used save in cases of
emergency, and, if intended for use only in such cases, shall
be fitted with a door (hereinafter referred to as the "emergency
door") kept securely latched until it is required to be used.
The device for opening the emergency door shall at all times
be capable of ready operation, and if such device includes a
removable key shall be permanently fixed by a chain fastened
within 18 in. of the keyhole. The keyhole shall be situated
not higher than 4 ft. from the floor. In omnibuses fitted
with an emergency door a conspicuous notice directing atten-
tion to the emergency door, and clearly indicating the means
for opening it, shall be displayed inside the omnibus, towards
the front thereof. Every emergency door shall be kept free
of all obstruction outside the omnibus.
(3) A passage-way to the doorway or doorways in general
use shall at all times be kept free and unobstructed, and if a
passenger-seat is in the way of an emergency door the seat
shall be readily removable in case of emergency.
(4) Every doorway shall be provided with a suitable non-
slip tread-plate.
(5) More than one emergency door may be provided in an
omnibus, in which case the foregoing provisions shall apply to
all such emergency doors.
(6) A ready means of exit from the omnibus shall be at all
times available for the driver.
(7) At least once a week every door in the omnibus shall be
opened and closed, and any locks and other parts thoroughly
tested to ensure that the doors and locks (if any) are main-
tained in good working-order.

Driver's Protection.
8. (1) There shall be no passenger-seat alongside the
driver's seat or with its centre nearer than 3 ft. to the steering-
wheel rim or to any change-gear or brake-lever, unless the
passenger-seat is divided from the driver's seat by a permanent
and transparent partition.
(2) The driver's seat shall be so situated that he can readily
give prominent arm or mechanical signals for traffic purposes.
Not less than 18 in. of space on each side of the centre of the
steering-wheel from the driver's shoulders to the floor shall
be allowed for the driver, but portion of such space may be
included in the passage-way provided for by subclause (3) of
the last preceding clause.
(3) There shall be no avoidable obstruction of any nature
whatsoever on the omnibus which may interfere with the
driver's near or distant vision, whether in front or to the right
or left. No passenger or person shall at any time be allowed
to be in such a position on the omnibus that he interferes