UNREASONABLE BY-LAWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 187, 6 February 1912, Page 5

UNREASONABLE BY-LAWS.

t A WHEELBARROW COMPARISON. By Telegraph—Press Association. ' f Hamilton, i Last Night. Mr. Loughnan, S.M., gave judgment to-day in a test case (a police prosecu- . tion), Hamilton Borough Council v.,' Bates, motor garage proprietor, for breach of the motor by-law, "by exceeding " the speed limit of eight- jniles an hour. ■ \ Defendant pleaded not guilty, though admitting he exceeded the speed mentioned. 1 Counsel for defendant contended the bylaw was unreasonable. ( t In reply to the S.M. as to whether he. could n6t go quicker in a hansom cab, defendant said he could, go quicker jn, a wheelbarrow. (Laughter):' After a mass of evidence in favor of defendant " by motor-car owners, the - Magistrate - commented on the fact of the Borough' Council having no • representative -pre-' sent. He considered the case should have been taken out of the hands of the, police in defending its own by-laws. Then costs could have been awarded to the unfortunate man, who had thrown himself into the breach to get the by-law can- j celled. • f In concluding a lengthy judgment, the, •. ,■ Magistrate said, because he thought the - by-law unreasonable, he would infliot no penalty. If the police decided to appeal against the decision, he w<mld put it in writing. > /