HUTT SPEED TRAPS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1980, 10 February 1914, Page 3

HUTT SPEED TRAPS.

■\ ' TEN MONTHS' FiGUM COUNCIL RESOLUTE tO CO ON. Reporting to tlie Hutt Borougli Council last evening, the Borough Engineer *(Mr. W. J. liochc) made the following reieflmce to motor traffic:—"Ten cases of breacli of the borcugh by-law regulating the speed of motor vehicles wore decided at the meeting of the court on February 4, and convictions given in every case. Three othera have been adjourned. This, however, is a small proportion of thode wte were actually caught on the occasion that gavo riso to tho prosecutions, as, owing to tlio- strike, it was found impossible to secure tho names of the drivers outside, the Wellington district. We have still 72 cases that we are investigating. From tlio. time wo comineaced. trapping last Apri!. to tlate thero are 189 names on our books, almost all of which'have given rise to considerable correspondence." In further explanation, tho engineer said that fho chief trouble tlid officials ,met was in discovering tho drivers of ; vehicles noted by the traps. Jfc was comparatively easy (although" not always quite easy), on account of tho numbers being small or obscured by dust, to find the owners in the names of whom tho cars were registered, but the owners did not-always do their best to help tlio council to find tlis drivers. The difficulty of finding the drivers was accwitvated by reason of the faet that cars .came over the Hutt Road from all.parts of the country. Tho Mayor said that what was needed was an amendment of the law to make the owners responsible. Councillor Datt&dn put forward a suggestion which had been made to him by some motorists that summonses shouldbo issuedimore speedily, in order to obviate needless expenses to the persons summoned. He also put forward the further suggestion that the speed limits should bo 20 miles between the bridge and the V.I.C. corner, and 25 Kilos from the V.1.0. corner onwards. The Mayor said lie would not be in favour of increasing the limit. It- was high enough already. These people caused no end of trouble to tho borough authorities, and it was preposterous for them to come forward aud ask the. council , to take action: moro quickly. What the council must do was to eiiforco the by-law as stringently as possible. Councillor Kempthorne • I think the .more irksome we make these prosecutions the better. There will he fewer breaches of the by-law if va do. , The engineer remarked that.-it. -was wonderful what a largo number of men ■ with reputations for careful driving were - .discovered by theso prosectitions. On ! Sunday he had.observed, a ear trave-Hing through the borough at a speed of 45 miles an hour. Councillor Meldrum thought that the ; council should press for heavier penalties. . ■ ■' . . _ Councillor Clendon said that prosecutions were 'already having a. salutary ■ effect. Ho moved that steps be taken to get the support of tho Wellington City Council for a remit to tho 'Municipal ! Conference, recommending an amend" ; ment in tho law to make the owners of cars responsible, for their drivers speeding. Councillor Dawsdn asked for an assurance from tho engineer that he would - get out tho summonses against motorists more promptly, or as quickly as he could. The Mayor: I don't--think that the engineer should giw> any such. , assu-r----1 ance.. You might as well write to tho , Police Department and, nsk them to change their methods of issuing sura* mouses. In any case I am sure that i Mr. Jtoche gets out his summonses as promptly as possible now. ;.. 'Later the fact that the fines imposed even on offenders with many previous convictions did noi, exceed ids. was re* marked -upon. A councillor: I think the harvest up to date from fines has been fairly satisfactory. - ~ ,