CONVICTION FOR SPEEDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21326, 29 October 1932, Page 11

CONVICTION FOR SPEEDING

INSPECTOR'S HARD CHASE 50 MILES AN HOUR ALLEGED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] DARGAVILLE, Friday A charge of driving a motor-car on tho Dargaville-Te Kopuru main highway at a speed dangerous to the public was preferred against James A. Mackley, formerly a locomotive engineer in the New Zealand Railways, in the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M. Mr. F. Watters, joint County traffic inspector, gave evidence that he had been requested by the teachers of the Aoroa and Aratapu schools and by the Hobson County Council to check the speed of motorists past the schools mentioned. Mr. Watters said he had followed Mr. Mackley's car and had to travel at 50 miles an hour to keep up with him. There were four school children on the road at the time. Ho caught up to' Mr. Macklcy at Te Kopuru, a few miles further down. When questioned, the defendant said he was doing only 35 miles an hour and it was impossible for his car to do more than 37 miles an hour. Mr. Mackley refused to give him a trial run. In evidence, Mr. Mackley said that he had riot done more than 37 miles an hour on the day in question. He had never been in trouble before. He was emphatic that his car could not do 50 miles an hour. Gerald Sturrock, a passenger in defendant's car, stated that the car was driven past the schools steadily on the crown of the road at between 35 and 37 miles an hour. There was no danger to any pedestrians. The magistrate said he was prepared to believe the' traffic inspector's version. He fined the defendant £3 and costs. At the request of Mr. Astley, who appeared for the defondant, the fine was raised to £5 Is, and security for appeal was fixed at £7 7s