OVERLOADED VEHICLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22141, 21 June 1935, Page 14

OVERLOADED VEHICLES

TOO MANY PASSENGERS PROSECUTIONS AT Wh'ANGAREI [from our own correspondent] WHANGAREI, Tluirsday "You must learn to say no," said Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court when imposing a fine of £5 and costs on 12. Ralls, who was charged with operating a truck on the Kaikohe-Opononi, Road on May 18 with an overload.

"Ho had a certificate of fitness for 19 passengers and had -37 passengers on board," said the transport inspector. Kalis said ho was engaged to take Maoris to a hui, and over the telephone he arranged to take 20. \\ hen he reached the point at which he was to pick up his load there were about 30 natives who said he had agreed over the telephone to take that number. There was no other means of the Maoris being taken to the hui. More friends of the natives got on board at Kailcoho without his knowledge, so he took tho risk. „ The Northern Bus Company was charged with operating a bus on Kamo Road and Bank Street with an overload. The transport inspector, in evidence, said the bus carried six passengers more than it was entitled to carry. Theso passengers were standing in the bus. . Mr. Johnson, for the company, said tho day in question was a race day, and there was an after-races rush. To make conditions more difficult, «it was raining, and in those circumstances it was most difficult for drivers to keep their load strictly within the regulations. The magistrate said he admitted the circumstances were very difficult for the driver, but tho law had to he enforced. A fine of 30s and costs, 10s, was imposed.