SPIRIT OF UNREST

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 5, 1 October 1926, Page 3

SPIRIT OF UNREST

“TENSE FEELING AMONG

MOTORISTS”

INCONSISTENCIES IN FINES FOR BY-LAW BREACHES

Dominion Special.

Christchurch, September 30.

In the course oi ms auuress to tne annual meeting of members of the canterbury Aumniqbile association, the acting-president (Mr. B. BaicK) passed comment on tne work, of the City council’s traffic inspectors and. inconsistencies in tne matter of fines inflicted lor by-law breaches. Mr. I'alck said that a burning question that interested motorists was the daily increasing number ot prosecutions for alleged inlriugement of the by-laws. He wanted it clearly understood that the association set its face strongly against those who deliberately flouted the laws, and had no time whatsoever for the motor nog or drunken driver, but surely there must be many cases in which strict cautions with a noting of the offender’s name would have just as salutary an effect, rather than prosecutions in every instance. Traffic inspectors should aim by advice and instruction to educate the motorist as to his obligations, and so bring about universal observation of traffic regulations. It was stating the position mildly to say that at present there was a tense feeling among motorists, not only of uneasiness in regard to the apparent straining after convictions by the city inspectors, but also respecting the obvious inconsistencies in the amount of fines inflicted for breaches of a similar character, and especially the severity of the fines for ordinary offences when compared with those inflicted in other centres. He would also like to draw the attention of those responsible to the undue length of time persons affected were kept waiting in Court. Surely some system could be devised so that this serious waste of time could to a large extent be eliminated, and he trusted this suggestion would be taken notice of and adopted with good results. ..... ZK. Mr. F. W. Johnston said that he felt that it must be borne in upon them all and the whole countryside that there was a spirit of unrest among motorists. One could not criticise the judiciary, as the latter could not come down off their scats and take part in any discussion. Mr. C. S. Thomas said that there was one aspect of the law which the council might give attention to. This was in connection with the Act which gave a Magistrate power to grant compensation as well as inflict a fine. He quoted a case which had gome under his personal observation in which a man was fined for negligent driving and also ordered to pay .£5O compensation. The man was not in a. position to pay this sum, and as it was in the same nature as a fine he .would have to go to gaol for not paying. “This is entirely wrong,” added Mr. Thomas. “If a man is sued in a civil Court and is unable to pay he can file, but under tins new Act it means gaol. It is right against the spirit of British justice and it’s all wrong.” (Loud applause.)