HEAVY MOTOR TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 121, 16 February 1926, Page 4

HEAVY MOTOR TRAFFIC

DRIVERS FINED FOR USING ROAD

" “Dominion” Special. Palmerston North, February 15. Before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day, on the information of A. McDonald Hall, highways inspector, of Wellington, James Anderson Hughes was charged with using on ' the main highway at Parentata a motor lorry exceeding with its load five tons. Similar informations were laid against J. Muir, B. Williams, Frederick Purcell, and Stephen James Havill. Mr. H. R. Cooper appeared for Purcell and Hughes and Mr. J. Grant for the other defendants. All pleaded guilty. Mr. Cooper said that defendants were sot aware the road was closed. They were later given to understand that no action would be taken. Mr. Grant said that the drivers paid £75 in heavy traffic license fees, and felt they were entitled to that amount of service out of the roads. Previously they were allowed to use the Pa-remata road because their lorries acted as a roller, but. now, having helped to turn the road into decent order, they were • not allowed to use it. This was the first breach under the highways informations. Mr. F. H. Cooke, who appeared for informant, said that the drivers had been repeatedly warned. It had been found necessary to close the road, and this was done, from August 24 to September 30. The damage done was estimated at £550. The Highways Board was not asking for a heavy penalty, however. The maximum fine was £2O. "These are reallv the first cases of their kind,” said Kir. J. L. Stout, S.M., in imposing a fine of £2 and costs on each offender. "Drivers of heavy lorries will have to be more careful in future,” he remarked.