MINISTER’S CAR SPEED

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1945, Page 4

MINISTER’S CAR SPEED

COSTLY CURIOSITY. DUNEDIN, July 18. When a charge against Arthur Johnston of exceeding the speed limit was called at a sitting ot the Magistrate’s Court in Oamaru before Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M., a letter from the defendant pleading extenuating circumstances was read. The “extenuating circumstance” was curiosity, and it cost the defendant £2/10/-. The defendant, in his letter,, said that there was a Government . car ahead of him, and it was being driven at excessive speed. As he was curi--07 s to see who the occupants were, he proceeded to overtake this car. On drawing level he observed that the car was being driven by a chauffeur, and sitting next to him was the Minister of the Crown who was responsible for introducing the speed limit of 40 miles an hour on the- open road. The traffic inspector concerned had made no effort to stop this car. Inspector J. M. Henderson, for the Transport Department, said that Ministers of the Crown were exempt from any speed limit. The Magistrate’ said that the regulations stated that Ministers of the Crown were exempt when they were on urgent public business. The Court was placed in a most invidious position in such cases as this. He asked if the Minister concerned was on urgent public business. Inspector Henderson replied that he did not know. It had been estimated that the Government car was travelling at about 45 miles an hour, and they usually allowed five miles an hour grace. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £2, with costs 10/-, stating that the defendant must pay for his curiosity.