The Hawera Star. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1924. THE LAW AND THOSE WHO MAKE IT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 November 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1924. THE LAW AND THOSE WHO MAKE IT.

Delivered every evening by 3 o’cloeft in Hawera, Manaia, Nottnanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, JJurleyville, Patea, Waveriey, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

The session which ended on Thursday was not notable for any brilliant oratory, and on some occasions members of the House could fairly be charged with wasting valuable time and putting the country to unnecessary expense in their determination to air their views. Nevertheless the session has resulted in a large number of new Acts being placed upon the Statute Book, and among the new legislation are some measures of great importance, especially the Act which makes it obligatory for . electors to enrol within four months. The finance measures and the Public Works .Statement contain proposals which should have an important j infhienee upon the whole country, while the Mortgages Pinal Extension Act is a measure designed to solve the problem with which many mortgagors are faced in the lifting of the moratorium, Many Bills were dropped, some ' containing contentious proposals. However, the House can point to a fair record of achievement, and it is to be hoped that the new Acts will prove of benefit to the general welfare of the Dominion and its people. Of the making of laws there appears to be no end, and to the layman the thought occurs that it would be a good thing if a thorough overhaul of the numerous Acts in operation were undertaken. If one reads -md compares various laws one can find conflict and numbers of anomalies in places. For instance, a motor car may not be a motor car, according to a recent Wanganui case. A few days ago the deputy-superintendent of the Wanganui fire brigade was proceeded against for driving a fire motor dangerously (wit-

nesses said he reached 50 miles an hour) on his way, not to a lire, but to a break in a water main. Counsel contended that, since under the Act :

motor was a vehicle not exceeding three tons, the fire engine, which weighed over five tons, was not a motor, and the Magistrate upheld the point and dismissed the case. Are we to understand from this decision — which no doubt was a perfectly sound one in law —that all motor vehicles weighing over three tons are exempt from laws governing lighter machines? If it be so, the driver of a heavy lorry enjoys an immunity to which he is not entitled. The Motor Vehicles Bill, passed during the recent session, gives a far better definition of a, motor vehicle—“any vehicle propelled by mechanical power”—but we do not know if this new A.ct will make the old one inoperative. We quote this case to show that in the making of new laws it is very easy to bring about a state of affairs so well expressed by the memorable Mr Bumble that “the law is a ass, a. idiot.'” Law is supposed to be based upon common-sense, yet it is full of intricacies and difficulties, and the average person knows little about it, until he finds that he has offended against some one or more of its provisions. We think that the laws of the land could with advantage be much simpler and be made more widely known. If Parliament would revise the whole of the laws from time to time and remove some of the absurdities which exist, it would probably do more good than is done by those members who seem to talk for talking’s sake at a heavy cost .to the country.,