OFFENDING MOTORISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 107, 7 May 1924, Page 8

OFFENDING MOTORISTS.

INADEQUATE PENALTIES. DISCUSSED 15V COUNCIL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WHAXOAREI. Tuesday. At a recent sitting of the Whangarei i Magistrate's Court, Mr. R. \V. Tate, P.M., in passing judgment on two defen- | dunts charged with breaches of bylaws as concerning motor vehicles, which had resulted in a lady named Jliss Kay being injured, made some pointed remarks about the Ctourt not having power to deal with the licenses of defendants. At last night's meeting of the Whangarei Borough Council, the matter again cropped up on receipt of certain letters, which erronously stated that the magistrate had recommended the can- , cellation of licenses of the persons in I I question. Some councillors wanted to i J act on the report submitted by the police, , but Cγ. A. 11, Curtis maintained that I the delinquents should be called before j the council before any such drastic step J was taken. There was a lengthy debate I upon the subject, based mainly on an erroneous assumption that the magis- i trate had specifically advised that certi- ! licates of competency affected should be ! cancelled. Ultimately it was decided I that the Works Committee should inquire j into the matter further before any pro- j ' nouncement of an additional penalty to that inflicted by the Court should be made. Cr. VV. Simpson had moved that suspension be for three months, and Cr. A. D. Jack, in seconding the motion, had expressed the opinion that the council was shirking its duty if it did not act on the magistrate's suggestion. Cr. E. G. \V. Tibbitts wished to increase the penalty to cancellation for a period of six months.