DIFFICULTIES SEEN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 10

DIFFICULTIES SEEN

Suggested Special Court For Traffic Offences When Mr. P. J. Thorn, Otago, asked, at a meeting of the South Island Motor Union, why motorists charged with offences against the traffic regulations should have to appear in the same court with drunks and burglars, he expressed a view which many motorists hold. Difficulties in the way of setting up a separate court for hearing such cases as Mr. Thorn suggested, were pointed out, however, by a Wellington solicitor and motorist yesterday. Some breaches of traffic regulations were very serious offences, he said, and some drunks might be very fine fellows. Assuming that Mr. Thorn meant that one particular magistrate should be set apart to hear cases of offences against the traffic regulations, there would be the question of employing his time fully. In Wellington, for instance, this work occupied only between one and a half to two days a week. A further point was that if special treatment were given motorists in this way there were other classes, such as offenders against city regulations, who would have equal claims to similar treatment.