THE YOUNG CONSTABLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 8

THE YOUNG CONSTABLE

Sir,— Some of the members of our police force forget the extent of their authority. I was an eye-witness to an incident last evening which proves this. A motor-car was driven up the Parnell rise about five o’clock, following a tramcar to the stop at Garfield Street. There was just comfortable time Dm the car to get past the tram before P* stopped to let down passengers. fore the tram stopped, however, a man, disregarding all regulations and a L laws of self-preservation, jumped oi the car and walked across in front o the motor. Only the sudden and fi® r . c application of the brakes saved him from being hit. A young and inexperienced constable was standing on the corner, and with the illogicality wnicn characterises those who do not get full grasp of their facts, he came and attacked the motorist for his careless driving. He was bumptious unreasonable in his attitude, and performed in a manner unbecoming on holding his dignified position. The la is clear upon the point. A moton* must not pass a standing tramcar. Neither must a tram passenger drop off while the tram is moving. U tram passenger in this instance had n broken the law the motorist could,wit ease have passed the tram before stopped, and nobody would have disturbed. But the interfering con* stable did not see that, and in the flush of his authority, was not prepare* to listen to reason. The difficulty sir, that in cases of this kind the/'instable is always believed in court *> “ fore the word of the motorist is 11 ■ ' cepted. If there is any trouble over this particular case I am prepared give evidence, because I think I owe to the motoring community. observer, j