TRAFFIC BY-LAWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1930, Page 6

TRAFFIC BY-LAWS.

• j' A DEFENDANT'S PROTEST.

, / < (To the Editor.) In common with several other respectable citizens. I had to attend the Magistrate's Court on "Wednesday in connection with a by-law prosecution.. The work of the Court was- eo ! Wavy that two courts had to be used for ; by-lAw breaches. A simple sum in arithmetic ■would arrive at this stupendous waste of time!. It certainly seems high time that was done to either revise the by-laws, or alternatively to prosecute every offender so that . they would break down with their own weight. My firm has recently been engaged carrying out alterations to the Bank of Australasia, in Queen. Street, and whilst working there the writer inquired from a Queen Street traffic, officer 'as to the advisability of standing between the safety and footpath for the purpose of unloading. Not satisfied with this', he also inquired from a policeman on street duty. Both of these officers advised that as - it was obviously impossible to stop anywher« else no sensible officer would take action. There is ample room for a vehicle to pass between a . stationary truck and the safety zone. . The public utilities at the corner are as follow: ; First: Safety zone in Queen Street; the posting box on the corner; a ladies' room in Wyndham Street; a full-day parking area in Wyndham Street on one side; a taxi stand and a fruit stall on the opposite side. The council, of course, receive? rent for the fruit stall. Notwithstanding th* impossibility of observing the by-laws, a driver employed by iny firm was fined £2 and costs for standing at this spot whilst unloading. The traffic department did not- dispute our statement that their officer had advised us in the matter. After -leaving the Court the writer counted over forty cars which were infringing by-laws and at the identical spot in Queen Street a Chinese fruit wagon, was standing. We know it is necessary to pay traffic officers their salaries, but a less cumbersome method could surely be designed, and it should not be left to the caprice of any individual inspector,; as to who should be prosecuted and who should not. ! ERNEST B. BAMBURW