ALLOWED TO OVERLOAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 3

ALLOWED TO OVERLOAD.

AND THEN PROSECUTED.

MOTOR TRUCK DRIVER.

COUNTY COUNCIL'S STRANGE ACT,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI, this day.

Unusual circumstances were disclosed in tho Police Court to-day during the hearing of an action taken by the county inspector against W. G. J. Woods, who overloaded his truck when carting on contract at Ruatangata.

The inspector said breaches under the heavy traffic by-laws were difficult to sheet home, although many cases undoubtedly occurred. In the present case a surfaceman on the road stated that Woods had been loading excessively for the past few months.

Counsel for accused submitted that this was quite different from the usual run of cases. Woods hired his truck to the Whangarei County Council and was engaged to drive it. In order to get a. job done both the county engineer and Mr. J. A. S. Mackay, the'riding member, authorised Woods to overload. Counsel contended that if any damage had beeii done to the road the engineer would have stopped overloading.

The inspector said he had no alternative but to take action, as, whether permission was given or not, overloading constituted an infringement of the law

The magistrate considered it extraordinary that the local body should encourage a breach of the law and then seek a fine. It was a matter fov the county itself. The case was dismissed without costs.