PROSECUTION FAILS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 98, 11 August 1944, Page 5

PROSECUTION FAILS

UNLICENSED TRACTOR ON ROAD

FARMER'S PLEA UPHELD

An. unusual development in the Whakatane Court proceedings last Tuesday was the collapse of the prosecution of Peter Charles Tipper who was charged with, on May 23, of having driven an unregistered motor vehicle —a 'Farmall' tractor on the Awakeri highway. The County Solicitor, Mr T. E. Hamerton, .saiil that the defendant was. driving the tractor from one farm to another and dragging a trailer loaded with timber. The, trailer was registered but the tractor was not. Counsel added that defendant had previously been warned by Inspector Carling. The 1 defendant explained, that having sold his old farm and purchased another, he was merely removing the tractor to the new property. The Magistrate: Hasn't a man got the right to shift his machinery from one farm to another? Counsel cited legal authorities to show that whenever a farm vehicle was used on a public highway it must be registered. "That seems stretching it a long way," commented the magistrate. Mr Hamerton: But this man was driving a load of timber, and I suggest that the fact that he, had registered the trailer showed that he knew what was required. The Magistrate: 1 think that Avlicre it is a case of going from one farm to another, the man need not necessarily register. As for the trailer, it would not matter whether lie were drawing a trailer or a tin can.* As he has pleaded guilty, lie will be convicted and discharged.