TRAFFIC PROSECUTIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 January 1935, Page 7

TRAFFIC PROSECUTIONS

POSITION OF MOTORISTS EVIDENCE ON COMMISSION MAGLSTR ATE DISAG PELS. (By Telegram —rrese Association.! BLENHEIM. Jan. 16. “1 cannot see why there should he a special law enabling motorists charged with traffic offences to give, evidence on commission when all defendants in other types of eases are required either appear or to let the eases go r.y uciaim,- commented Mr. T. S.M.. in the course of a case in which a Westport resident failed to appear for a local traffic prosecution. The defendant wrote that he could not leave his" work to come .to Blenheim! As the law stood at present lie had no chance of advancing what he considered was a- sound defence. He put his side of the case to the magistrate in his letter and attached a newspaper cutting containing a report of the Haw era ease in which counsel for a motorist pointed out what .he described as an anomalous position arising from the fact that while parties and witnesses in civil proceedings had facilities for giving evidence on commission m cases being heaitl at- a distance, no such provision was made for those prosecuted under the Motor Vehicles Act. “f do not see why eases under the STo tor Vehicles Regulations should he proceeded with under a special provision,” remarked Mr. Maunsell^ after glancing through the cutting. “There are a hundred and one offences brought before this court where the defandant might come front a distance and might be. put to inconvenience and expense.”