SPEED OF MOTORS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 80, 1 October 1924, Page 6

SPEED OF MOTORS

RESTRICT lONS NOT WANTED

'ACTION-- BT "AUTOMOBILE UNION.

■ • .vThqr,prospect of speed limits I'.tcSf/Su.Otojfib^^W^rriiqt.regarded favourably by delegates present at the- annual meeting ..of the New Zealand Automobil« Union:.to-day. The object of motorists, it was pointed outj was to do .VW?3T 7.i*k .speed limits altogether. ■ On bohaif of .the"Wellington Union, Mr. H.'Anws-moved the following re-

mits:—

■■' ' "T&at amendment of the law be se._.enred^prD:nifing.jfor. -uniform., speed., restriction throughout, the Dominion, and taking away power from local bodies . .to impose restrictions at variance with '. those allowed through the country as a whole, and' that euch/speed restric- ": tions" be .on: the following basis:—Cities, boroughs, and town districts : In business streets, not exceeding 15 m.p.h.; in residential streets, not exceeding 20 •-m.p.lx.; open country, not exceeding .■SO m.p.h.; across intersections, around corners, and, past schools, 10 m.p.h. Where any special restrictions are required the Highways Board should have power to impose them on application being made by the local body." • ■ • Mr. I. V. Wilson (Wairarapa) seconded the motion pro forma. He said that what-they really wanted to do was to go in the opposite direction, and have no speed limits at all. ± .Mr. J. A. Warnock (Auckland), also spoke against the proposal. The matter „ was, he aaid, already covered by statute ' and by circumstances. There were times when it was necessary to "go slow," but there were times when they could disregard speed limits. He regretted that the remit had been placed on the order paper. . Mr. A. N. Field (Wellington) said that if they could get away from speed limits altogether, good and well, but if ..they were to have speed limits then they should be uniform all over the . country. . ■ . , . s

The chairman (Mr. W. H. Booth) .said that the position would be -ridiculous: if they reduced the speed to ten miles per hour going past schools. _ They would be in the undignified position of seeing their cars overtaken by milk carts. (Laughter.) Other delegates spoke against the proposal on general grounds. Mr. A.Grayson (Auckland) said fliat all motorists were, in favour of a reasonable speed being observed, but were quite against" restrictions. After fnrther':discusstbn,' the"Wellington delegates agreed to withdraw thenremit, and the following motion was carried: "That an amendment of the law be obtained, taking away from local bodies the power to impose speed restrictions."

.The following remit, moved by the .Wellington delegates, was carried :— "That an amendment of the law be secured, proyidinor that where a motorist is charged with an offence consisting solely of _ exceeding a spaed limit, it shall he incumbent on the prosecution to show that he was stopped and notified of his offence immediately followingits commission. Further that notice of intention to prosecute for any breach of motor by-law shall be given within three days of the commission of the offence."