FEES FOR MOTOR-LORRIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20924, 14 July 1931, Page 12

FEES FOR MOTOR-LORRIES.

PENALTY FOR NON-PAYMENT. CARRYING FIRM FINED £27. Fin&s and costs totalling £3l 10s were imposed on W. J. Webb, Limited, a firm of carrying contractors, which was charged in the Otahuhu Police Court yesterday with having operated seven motorlorries for which no heavy traffic licences had been taken out. Twelve charges in all were laid by'' traffic inspectors of the Main Highways Board, the Onehunga a/id Otahuhu Borough Councils, but three were withdrawn, as they were in respect of similar vehicles on the same date.

Evidence was given that on various dates between June 1 and 23 tho firm's lorries had been carrying loads of manure varying between three and six tons. Heavy traffic licences had not been taken out and the total fees due for the current quarter was over £9O. It was stated that offences of this kind caused considerable dissatisfaction among other competing firms, which had paid all licence dues.

Counsel for defendant stated that the firm was not wholly to blame, as the Auckland city traffic department had refused to accept payment of the current quarter's fees, on the ground there were arrears due on the previous quarter. There had been considerable negotiation with the department, which had now been settled, , the balance of the fees having been paid yesterday. The magistrate, Mr. F. H. Levien, said the defendants had been often before him on charges of this nature and had had varying fortune in fines from £2O tc 10s on each charge. -He had come to look with suspicion on parties who paid dues for licences on the day of hearing charges. If the firm went on the road in future without licensing its lorries the fines would be made such to be a greater deterrent. A fine of £3 and 10s costs on each of the nine charges would be imposed.