DAMAGES GIVEN PEDESTRIAN

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27747, 26 August 1955, Page 8

DAMAGES GIVEN PEDESTRIAN

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR TO PAY £lO

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 25. “Unlawful, unjustified, and a little high-handed’’ was how Mr R. M. Grant, S.M.. described a technical assault by a traffic officer on a pedestrian in Quay street. Auckland. In a reserved decision, he awarded the pedestrian, Harold Rhodes Speight, £JO damages. A charge against Speight of disregarding a traffic officer’s directions was dismissed, with costs to Speight of £5 ss. The Magistrate said that the traffic officer. John Stewart Crawford* mistakenly thought Sneight was a man he had earlier checked for crossing against the lights by the Ferry Building. He seized Speight to try to force him to return to the pavement. A “little bumping” occurred. The Magistrate found that the lights were in Speight's favour when he stepped off the pavement. He considered that Crawford did not : take his superiors fully into his confidence. because he did not inform j them of the earlier incident on the ■ crossing. This earlier event was unknown to them when procedings were instituted against Speight. The proceedings had the appearance ■ of speedy reprisals, not unrelated to Speight’s damages claim against • Crawford, said the Magistrate.