"LUST FOR SPEED."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 12

"LUST FOR SPEED."

MOTOR-CYCLISTS' WEAKNESS. STRONG VIEWS OF JUDGE. APPEAL COURT INTERLUDE. [BY TKLKGRAtH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON. Thursday. "It is that lust for spend that these, motor-cyclists are afflicted with that causes nine-tenths of these collisions," said Mr. Justice Sim in the Court of Appeal during the bearing of a case arising out of a motor collision. Counsel for plaintiff said that his client accelerated in order to avoid a motorcar, the driver of which also accelerated, with the result that there was a collision. If neither had made a rtovo, said counsel, they would have been waiting there until Doomsday for each other to pass. Mr! Justice Sim: There was no need to wait that long. Counsel contended that it was only natural for his client to accelerate. Mr. Justice Sim: Oh, yes, push on at all costs. That is the guiding spirit of the motor-cyclist. The Chief Justice: Surely the car had as much right on the road as the motorcycle. Mr. Justice Sim: Some motor-cyclists look upon the mere pedestrian as dirt. They expect him to hop out of the way, but surely they do not expect the same thing from motor-cars. Mr. Justice MacGregor: Let us hope they will be like Kilkenny cats and kill each other. Mr. Justice Alpers was questioning counsel in regard to the speed of the vehicles when, the latter interposed: What does too fast mean, anyhow ? Mr. Justice Alpers: Don't ask me questions, please. Make your submissions.