POLICE & MOTOR-CARS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1746, 10 May 1913, Page 2

POLICE & MOTOR-CARS.

THE SPEED LIMIT, MUST SIGN-POSTS BE PUT UP? Recently tlio police took over from tlio municipal authorities tho control of stroet traffic, and yesterday tho first few cases brought against motorists under tho new regiino wero heard in the Magistrate's Court. In ono of these casts tho question was raised as to whethor motorists can bo convicted of breaking the speed limits unless those limits aro placarded. In litis caso Douglas Harrison was charged with having driven a motor-car at a speed greater than six miles per hour round tlio corner of Grey Street nnd LambtonQuay. Sergeant Henry gavo. evidence to tho effect that ho had seen Harrison drivo round tlio corner at tho rato of twelve miles per hour. Mr. T. M. Wilford (defendant's counsel) : How do you get at tho speed of twelvo miles an hour? , Sorgeant Henry:, It is my opinion. How do you arrive at it?—"l reckon that ho was going at tho samo rato as a fair milo' runner. Who do you call n fair mile runner— Slmibb or yourself P—"Well, I reckon live minutes for a mile." How fast do you think a tramcnr goes along tho street?—"l think thoy sometimes go at tlio rato of twenty miles an hour." . .Was there a notlco on the street corner. stating tho . speed at which cars could • travel there?—'"No." Did you talk to tho motorman thero afterwards?—" Yes." , Did you toll him ho spoko likd a Jew ?— "I cannot remember." Didn't ho reply: "I'm neither a Jew nor a Chinaman"?—"l don't remember." Did you tell these motor drivers, that you wero going to "mako them sit up right down to the ground"? Witness: I told thorn I was going to mako them obsorvo the by-laws. Did you sav you wero going to make them subscribe to tho revenue of the country?—" No." Were you not officious' and overbearing to these taxi-drivers '"Not that I know of." Tho sergeant's evidence was corroborated by that of a constable. Mr. Wilford contended that under Section,o, Sub-Section 2, of the Motor Regulations Act, 1908, 'the Court would find that tho local authorities havo to set up signposts denoting the limit of speed at which motors' may proceed at any particular, place. Tho first thing a local authority had to do was to put up sign-posts at ft place where tlicy desired a speed limit. On Mr. T. P. Martin's advice they had (lone this at Petono and Lower Hiitt. No sign-posts had been crccteil in Wellington, and consequently no information could lie until such posts wero put up. A second point raised by Mr. Wilford was that tho Wellington city authorities had neglected to provo that that body was a reijistc'riiig authority within the Act. Further, ho contended that the city authorities had no power to make by-laws lilndting a speed. Tho Motor Regulations Act of 1908 was the parent of all motor bylaws, nnd that Act merely regulated speed which was dangerous to tho public. Mr. Wilford added that the statements of Sergeant Henry wore untrue, and that tho sergeant's attitude was insulting and abusive, and that his evidence was coloured, /partial, and unreliable. The defendant, Douglas Harrison, taxidriver, stated in. -tfch couirso of evidence that ho went, round-the corner at six miles .an hour. This was indicated by liiis speedometer. / I'Toiui- witnesses gave ovidenoo in support of statements by this defendant Harrison. In the oourso of a r-eply to tlio points raised by Mr. Wilford, Mr. Beechoy (for tho Corporation) contended- that tho Act referred to by Mr. Wilford did not. apply to'the by-law, which was well iiiadtf-tbad'fjr tho Municipal ■Oorpcirafcioivs Act. ' " On t'lio 6'ubjcct ol tho msce&s-i ly or otherwise for speed notices oh tho corners, his Worship remarked: Is not tho position ' that tho corns® of a stmt is so conspicuous in itself that it is unnecessary to lvavo amy signposts? • Mr. Beeclioy argued, also, that tlio other technical points raised by Mr; Wilford did not apply. Tho Count reserved its decision,