Special Courts Wanted for Motor Traffic Cases

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 45, 22 February 1945, Page 4

Special Courts Wanted for Motor Traffic Cases

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. A proposal that special courts be established for the hearing of motor traffic cases is to be discussed at the next meeting of the council of ' the North Island Motor Union. When illegal car conversion was being discussed at a meeting of the Council to-day Mr. F. G. Farrell (Auckland) drew attention to an editorial in the official bulletin of the Automobile Association (Auckland) which raised the subject of the establishment of special courts to deal with all offences by or against motorists. The courts, he said, seemed overworked and it was questionable whether magistrates had sufficient knowledge of motoring to deal with some of the cases that came before them and to fix suitable punishment. If special courts were established, particularly in the larger centres, there would probably be a more appropriate treatment of offenders than at present. He moved that the subject be placed on the agenda of the next meeting. Mr. T. M. Rodgers (Manavvatu) seconded the motion, remarking that it was a matter of making the punishment fit the crime. The motion was carried.