BOROUGH TRAFFIC BY-LAWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1917, Page 6

BOROUGH TRAFFIC BY-LAWS.

MOTORISTS TO BE PROSECUTED. The conduct of motorists in' New Plymouth was the, subject of a discussion at a meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening. The Borough Inspector (Mr. B. Tippins) asked that counsel; be provided to assist him in a number' of prosecutions lie proposed to bring for alleged breaches of the borough traffic by laws. The inspector complained that one motorist, whose name and address he gave, refused to stop when ordered to do so. He also stated the nature of the oi.iicr cases.

Cr. X. M. Monteath remarked that if there was one thing that 7equired "settl.'ng" in New Plymouth it was the n-.cior menace. The manner in which the by-laws were ignored '.vas positively scandalous. Accidents were happening every day, and the menace went on unchecked. One of the chief sources of danger was the .cutting round corners at excessive speed. - ' Cr. W. F. Short objected to the ceaseless-, prosecution of motorists for trivial breaches of the by-laws. In New Plymouth a motorist was Teqoired to stop when approaching a stationary tramcar. That was not so in Auckland and [elsewhere. The motorist merely slowed down and tram passengers got out oi

the car's way. He strongly objected to people being brought bef< re the Court or. every possible occasion. He thought it was scandalous. Another thing, he did'not see why motorists should be prosecuted for failing to stou when a man, apparently a civilian, he'd up his hand. Cr. S. J. Smith disagr;ed with Cr. Short. The holding up of the hand by an official \yas regarded throughout the world as an imperative command to stop. If it were not. observed law and order would go to the wall. The Council lad an inspector who carried out his duties in a very faithful manner, and the Council should support Jiim in every" way. Cr. Smith inquired ae to who was responsible for the hat-band which distinguished the inspector. The Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess): ?)ld you write that letter in the Daily News about the inspector's liat-band? (Laughter).

Cr. Smith did not reply to this question, but said he was away when the authority for a distinguishing mark was made by the Council. He felt very disappointed that the Council did net see its way tojprovide a proper uniform. or something more in keeping with the dignity of the office than the hatband'thai was now worn. The Mayor and Town Olerk informed the Council that a cap similar to that worn by a tram conductor _)vas chesen for the inspector, but the latter <}<(lined,--it, stating that a cap afford sufficient protection irom the sun. Ife preferred to war his own Panama hat M.'th the words. "Borough Inspector sewn on the band.

The Inspector was a.llmved to enlist .the ser.vipcs of the Borough solicitor in connection with the prosecutions referred to.