CHAINS ON METAL

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 256, 4 October 1928, Page 8

CHAINS ON METAL

COUNTY PROSECUTIONS. A determined stand against the use 1 of- chains on motors while traversing metal roads is being made by the Matamata County Council. Usually the circumstances are that chains are put on at the approach to an unmettailed piece of road, but not removed when metal is again reached, owing sometimes to the fact that further on chains are again required. The result is that the intervening metal gets badly cut up by the chains,hence the wrath of the council, engineer and ratepayers. Two cases in point occurred at the Putaruru S.M. Court on Thursday, before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., the prosecutions being in the name of the county ranger, Mr. E. W. Jordan. Mr. Lewis appeared for the council. J. Culloty, farmer, w>s alleged to have used chains on Arapuni road. Mr. Lewis said the case, was not a bad one, but the council wished the matter given publicity. The fact of using chains on metal was very damaging. The council insisted that the regulations be observed. The defendant was a farmer in the district.

Ernest Joseph Darby, farmer and Putaruru riding member of the Matamata County Council, gave evidence in support of the prosecution. The defendant pleaded guilty. The chains were necessary on the mud, and he had to use them again after traversing a few chains of metal. Convicted and orderd to pay costs, 12s. A similar action was taken against C. A. Bond, carrier, of Huntly. Mr. Lewis commented that the circumstances were similar to the former one, except that defendant in the second case was a carrier, arid might be presumed to know the law. He admitted having a copy of the regulations in his pocket. Oswin Darby, of Arapuni, stated that the vehicle was travelling on the Putaruru-Arapuni road, with chains on the back wheels while running on metal. Chains were on for about two miles. To Mr. Burton: The truck was not loaded. Did defendant explain to your father that'he was going to the rescue of a woman and child whose lorry was stuck in the mud?—He did not say that. Defendant stated that he lived at Huntly. He put on the chains to hasten to assistance of a woman and child. He explained that they had come from Huntly, and had been on the road since 10 a.m., and it was then night, but Mr. E..J. Darby had told them he did not care whether they came from heaven or hell; he was not going to permit the use of chains on the metal. They were arguing for threequarters of an hour. To Mr. Lewis: It was the first time he had been on that road. It was dark at night and raining, and he did not want to get down on his hands and knees to get the chains off, and perhaps have to put them on again. (Continued in Next Column)

He took the chains off upon Mr. Darby’s request. Charles Bruce gave evidence that he had left Huntly at 10 a.m. His lorry got stuck on the mud at Arapuni, and defendant was going to help him out. There was no other reason for defendant coming to him. Dismissed upon payment of costs.