NEW SPEED LIMIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 12

NEW SPEED LIMIT

ENFORCING THE LAW SUPPORT FOR MINISTER ATTITUDE OF MAGISTRATES " SUBSTANTIAL PENALTIES " "The magistrates of Auckland have made up their minds to support the Minister of Transport in his endeavour to stop speeding," said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Otahnhu yesterday, when the first cases under the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 1936, were hoard. Six motorists were charged with travelling at speeds exceeding tho 30 miles an hour limit. Mr. Alan Breed, traffic inspector for tho borough of Otahuhu and the townships of Papatoetoo and Manurewa, gave evidence that defendants had travelled at speeds ranging from 34 to 46 miles an hour through tho town districts. Ho said the maximum speed permissible had been increased by five miles an hour, it previously having been 25 miles an hour. "Wo have been asked by tho Minister of Transport to enforce tho Act in respect of excessive speeding," added Mr. Breed. Small Fines Useless "Theso cases aro no longer taken under a by-law, but under the Statute and it would be useless to impose small fines," said tho magistrate. "Offenders would probably tako no notice of a fine of £l, and substantial penalties aro to bo imposed to support the Government's efforts to check speeding. Mr. Holmden, who appeared for a defendant, said that one of tho largest local bodies in tho district was not instituting proceedings in first offences. He said ho understood a letter was being sent by tho authority to motorists warning them that they had been exceeding the speed limit and if there was a repetition of tho offence they would bo prosecuted. Mr. Holmden suggested that tho Court take a similar view of first offenders now before it. Previous Warning Given

Tho Magistrate: No. I will not do that. I. warned motorists when last 1 was here that future prosecutions would bo under the new Act. Wo have made rip our minds to stop this fast travelling. Mr. Hunt said ho understood the attitudo referral to by Mr. Holmden was being taken by the Auckland City Council, but that was possibly on account of tho traffic department being understaffed.

A fine of £2 and costs was imposed in each case. Tho magistrate said that in futuro tho fines would bo much heavier.

GREAT SOUTH ROAD CONTROL RESTRICTED SPEED AREAS The responsibility upon motorists to become acquainted with the marking of local body boundaries within which tho speed limit of 30 miles an hour must bo observed was emphasised by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday, in tho Magistrate's Court at Otahuhu. When dealing with tho first prosecutions under the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 1936, Mr. Hunt said it would bo advisable to let motorists know just where tho limitations were imposed on tho Great South Road. Mr. A. Breed, traffic inspector to the Otahuhu Borough Council and the Town Boards of Papatoctoo and Manurewa, said the borough boundaries of Otahuhu and tho township boundaries of Papatoetoe were already sign-posted. Similar action was proposed at Manurewa, although there was no obligation on local bodies to do so under the Act. There wore few stretches of tho main South Road between Auckland and Papakura over which motorists could now travel at over 30 miles an hour. Mr. Hunt said tho main road through Otahuhu was probably tho busiest road iu New Zealand. It was the chief outlet from the city to the south, and he understood there was scarcely a week passed but accidents occurred. Sergeant J. Cahill said hundreds of traffic prosecutions in respect of the stretch between Westfield and Papatoetoe were brought beforo tho Otahuhu Court annually.