FIFTY MILES AN HOUR

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1932, Page 6

FIFTY MILES AN HOUR

DANGEROUS DRIAHNG CHARGE

INSPECTOR’S A’ERSION HOLDS,

DEFENDANT FINED,

(Special to “Northern Advocate.”)

DARGAVILLE, This Day

That ho was prepared to believe the evidence of the traffic inspector’s version, was the conclusion reached by Mr 0-. X. Morris, S.M., yesterday, when James A. Mackley, formerly locomotive engineer of the New Zealand Railways, was charged with driving a motor car on the Dargaville— Te Kopnru main highway at a- speed dangerous to the public. Mr F. Watters, joint county inspector, gave evidence that ho had been requested by teachers of the Aoroa and Aratapu schools and by the Hobson County Council to check the speed of motorists passing the seliools mentioned. Mr Watters said he .had followed Mr Mackley’s ear and had to travel JO m.p.h. to keep up with him. There wore four school children on the road at the time. Ho caught up to Mr Mackley at Te Kopnru, a few miles further down. When questioned the defendant said he was doing oniy .■!J m.p.h., and it was impossible for his car to do more than .T 7 m.p.h. M r Mackley refused to give him a trial

In evidence, Mr Maekley said lie had not run more than 37 m.p.h. on the day in question. Ho had never been in trouble before. He was emphatic that' his car could not do 50 m.p.h.

Gerald Sturm:k,, a, passenger in defendant’s car, stated that the car was driven past the school steadily on the crown of the road sit between 35 and 3.7 m.p.h. There wsis no danger- to any pedestrian. The magistrate lined the defendant £3 and costs. At the request of Air Astley, who appeared for the defendant, the fine was raised to £5 1/, and security for appeal was fixed at £7