Oct. 3.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 2577

Electric Wires.

18. Wires conducting electric current must be properly insulated, and be protected from injury, and shall be so placed as to minimize the risk of danger from short-circuits or other causes.

Oil Protection.

19. The exhaust-pipe must not be placed where oil or any inflammable or vaporizable material is likely to be dropped upon it. The dropping of grease and oil upon the roadway shall be reduced to a minimum.

Accumulation of Benzine, &c.

20. When a guard, tray, or undershield is fixed beneath the engine, carburetter, or fuel-tank it must be so constructed that any overflow of liquid-fuel is not retained thereon.

Steering.

21. Steering-gear and all connections thereof must be of ample strength, and their design and leverage must be such as to give convenient and sensitive control.

Protection of other Traffic.

22. Every omnibus shall be so constructed that it is able to turn any corner on its route without the need for using the reverse gear, and without unduly interfering with other traffic.

Protection from Vibration.

23. All brake and steering connections and all parts connected by bolts or by studs and nuts which are subject to severe vibration must be fastened by lock-nuts, castellated nuts with pins, or by nuts with approved spring washers or lock-nut washers.

Protection from Breakages.

24. On every omnibus there shall be provided to the satisfaction of the Inspecting Engineer effective and sufficient means of control to restrict the field of swing of the driving-shaft in the event of breakage of either the driving-shaft or the gear-box.

Driving-chains, &c.

25. Driving-chains and sprockets fitted to any omnibus must be protected by suitable guards.

Parcels, &c.

26. Reasonable provisions must be made for the carriage within the omnibus of passengers’ parcels, and when it is desired by the owner that baggage be allowed on the omnibus safe and reasonable provision must be made for its carriage.

Spare Wheel, Tools, &c.

27. The owner of every omnibus shall cause to be carried thereon at all times when in service a properly equipped spare wheel, or a spare rim and tire, ready for service, and a tool-box containing sufficient and suitable tools and renewable parts to meet all reasonable road needs :
    Provided that any omnibus may, at the discretion of the Inspecting Engineer, by writing under his hand, be exempted for the duration of the current license or such shorter period as may therein be stated, either in whole or in part, from the requirements of this regulation.

Towing.

28. No omnibus shall be used for the carriage of passengers when, owing to accident or breakdown, it is in such condition that it is required to be towed by another vehicle.

Lockers.

29. Suitable lockers, not more than two in number, containing two efficient jacks and other appliances necessary, in the opinion of an Inspecting Engineer, for cases of emergency, shall be provided in each omnibus, and the owner of such omnibus shall provide for the efficient tuition of the driver and conductor (if any) in the use of such jacks and appliances.

Loading.

30. (1) The fact that in the opinion of the Inspecting Engineer the chassis of any omnibus is carrying, or in service is likely to carry, a greater load or to be subjected in the frame or other vital part to a greater unit stress than it was designed by the makers, regularly and continuously, to carry, may be a ground for refusal by the Inspecting Engineer to make a report in terms of section 6 (3) of the said Act that the motor-omnibus may be licensed for the carriage of passengers, or may be a ground for the making of the said report only subject to certain conditions being complied with in respect of the omnibus.

(2) Save with the written permission of the Minister of Transport upon the recommendation of the licensing authority by which the omnibus is licensed, the maximum number of passengers permitted to be carried by any omnibus, in terms of the condition in that behalf to be contained in any license issued in respect of such omnibus, shall be not greater than four-thirds of the number of passengers for which seating-accommodation is provided, or the maximum number of seated and standing passengers which the Inspecting Engineer reports the omnibus to be fit to carry, whichever is the lesser.

(3) It shall not be lawful for any person to operate an omnibus, or for the owner of any omnibus to permit the same to be operated, unless the words “Licensed under the Motor-omnibus Traffic Act, 1926, to carry seated and standing passengers” (stating respectively the maximum number of passengers to be carried seated or standing in terms of the license) are legibly painted or affixed in some permanent manner in a conspicuous part of the interior of the vehicle, and unless the seated and standing passengers carried on the omnibus do not exceed the number stated in the notice.

(4) Clause 4 of Regulation 21 of the Motor-omnibus (Licensing) Regulations, 1926, is hereby revoked.

(5) It shall be a condition of every license issued in respect of a motor-omnibus (whether such condition be inserted in the license or not) that no standing passenger shall be allowed to travel on the driver’s platform or forward of an imaginary line drawn at right angles to the length of the omnibus across the back of the driver’s seat and for the full width of the vehicle.

Motor-vehicles Act Requirements.

31. No omnibus shall be considered to be in a suitable condition for the carriage of passengers unless all the requirements of the Motor-vehicles Act, 1924, and its amendments, and any regulations for the time being in force thereunder in so far as they affect the omnibus, have been fulfilled.

Inspection.

32. (1) For whatever purpose the omnibus is presented to the Inspecting Engineer for inspection, it must on each such occasion be presented in a thoroughly clean condition in all parts.

(2) A fresh report shall be obtained from an Inspecting Engineer in terms of section 6 (3) of the said Act before a license for another period is granted in respect of any omnibus that has previously been licensed, whether by the same or any other licensing authority.

PART II.

Special Regulations applicable only to Motor-omnibuses first licensed after 1st August, 1927, or as otherwise provided in Regulation 3.

Doorways.

33. (1) Every doorway for entrance and egress shall overall give at the frame at least 22 in. clear width for a height of at least 6 ft. from the floor or step, as the case may be : Provided (a) that in the case of emergency doors the doorway may be not less than 5 ft. in height from the floor, and (b) that in the case of a continuous-cross-seat omnibus the doorways may be not less than 4 ft. 6 in. in height from the floor and 18 in. in width.

(2) The doorway or doorways generally in use shall be on the near side of the omnibus.

Seats.

34. (1) In every seat there must be provided for each passenger at least 16 in. in width, measured in a straight line along the front edge of the seat, and there shall similarly be provided a width of at least 16 in. for the body and shoulders of each passenger, and not less than 14 in. in depth from the said front edge horizontally to the back of the seat. The distance from the floor covering to the top of the seat must be not less than 17 in. For the purposes of this clause, any cushion or other covering shall be deemed part of the seat, and for computing the width, depth, and height of a seat, the cushion or other coverings shall be uncompressed.

(2) No seat may be so situated that when occupied it will be likely to cause obstruction in the ordinary entrance and exit of passengers.

(3) When cushions are provided for seats they must be covered with leather or other material of good class and quality.

(4) Every seat must be so constructed and placed that each passenger shall have as leg room from 6 in. above the highest portion of the front edge of the seat to the floor at least 9 in. clear space forward for the full length of the front edge of the seat. In the case of any omnibus the body of which was ordered (if imported) or construction commenced (if not