SPEED LIMIT BY-LAWS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 June 1928, Page 8

SPEED LIMIT BY-LAWS.

EFFECT OF NEW REGULATIONS. COUNSEL’S CONTENTION ' NOT UPHELD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NAPIER, June 25. That every by-law in New Zealand fixing the speed of motor vehicles as under the speed limit fixed by the new. motor regulations is superseded by the uew motor regulationis was the interesting contention put forward by Mr. A. 11. D. Mayne in the Napier AlagisLrate's Court to-day before Mr. H. A. Young, S.M. Mr. Mayne contended' that the regulations were made with the; object of fixing at uniform speed limit in boroughs mid town districts throughout the Dominion. If it was held that the regulations did not supersede the bylaws, then there was a clause in the regulations' directing that it was necessary to erect signs showing the speed limit where fixed with borough by-laws. There was a. further clause which. stated that it could be used as a defence in a. ease against a motorist if such ai person proved that such' signs had not been erected. Counsel pointed out that no signs, were erected in the locality concerned in the case before the. court. Air. H. B. Lusk, for the Napier Borough Council, submitted that the speeds quoted by Mr. Mayne from the new regulations did not purport to bo the maximum speed throughout the Dominion, but simply the speeds thatrepresented prima facie evidence in cases of speeding. Tie' failed to find a table of maximum speeds in the regulations. This was presumably an omission on the part of the Public Works Department. There was no suggestion, be contended, that the bylaw was l in any way unreason able.. The magistrate said the effect of the contention set up by Air. Mayne, if upheld, would be to nullify every borough by-law relating to speed in the Dominion. He considered, however, that the contention of the defence' was not strong enough. If it were substantial enough it would be a matter for the Supreme Court-.