HEAVY TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1787, 30 November 1936, Page 4

HEAVY TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

NUMBER OF BREACHES Magistrate Issues Warning A warning that those charged with and found guilty of breaches of the heavy traffic regulations would be more' severely dealt. -with in future, was issued by Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Matamata Court on Thursday, following the hearing of a batch of cases brought by traffic inspectors. The defendants were Isaac Walker, Leonard Baker, Silas Ellery/ James Gill, Fred Pilcher (2 lorries) and John Walker. All were charged with exceeding the loading limit under the heavy traffic regulations and all were fined £1 and costs each.

In extenuation of his own breach, F. Pilcher, of Piarere, who is chairman of the Carriers’ Association, said that he had been carrying for 16 years and had never been questioned before.

The Magistrate (with a smile): Perhaps you have been lucky. Continuing, Pilcher said that he carried cream and in the flush of the season it was impossible tq 'get the exact weight of the load. ~He, had always taken out the full license demanded, and he thought that the County Council appreciated his position. Now that transport legislation was in the melting pot he felt that the County Council might have given a lead in the matter, in view of the facts he had stated, and issued a warning instead of laying an information. ' ■ '

The Magistrate replied that he did not see why cream carriers should be treated differently to a man carrying posts and battens, or anyone else. .5

The inspector said that he could not see why defendant could -not have got the weights, as the cream was always weighed at the factory. After inflicting the fine stated,Lithe Magistrate made the general comment that those charged with : similar offences would not be treated so leniently in future as they had been that day. ! i '