75 MILES AN HOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23202, 23 November 1938, Page 14

75 MILES AN HOUR

SAFETY RALLY EIDER "MENACE ON ROAD" TRAFFIC INSPECTOR'S CHASE One of the riders who took part in the motor-cycle rally from Auckland to Hamilton and back 011 November 12, under tho auspices of the Auckland Motor-cycle Road Safety Committee, sponsored by tho Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semplo, appeared in the Papakura. Magistrate's Court yesterday charged with driving in a dangerous manner in the course of tho event. It was stated that he attained a speed of 75 miles an hour. The defendant, who pleaded guilty, was Roy Kitchener Campbell, labourer, of 25 Beaconsfield Street, Grey Lynn. A traffic inspector, Mr. B. Muggeridge, who prosecuted, said ho noticed defendant travelling north along tho Great South Road at a high speed about 6.30 p.m. on tho day of tho trial. Ho went after him and was behind him as ho entered Papalcura. Accident Feared Passing tho Beach Road .junction, defendant was travelling at 75 miles an hour. He entered the restrictedspeed area at Papakura at 65 miles and eased to 55 miles approaching the Courthouse corner. He overtook a car and also other motor-cyclists in rounding tho bend at the Courthouse. "I thought he was going to crash there," continued tho inspector, "but be managed to retain control of his machine." He overtook and passed other vehicles by the Church of England corner and again beyond the Presbyterian Church. His speed was then down to about 50 miles an hour. Beforo reaching the northern boundary of Papakura Town District he had pulled in line -with four other motorcylists going north to avoid a car coming south. "I was sounding my siren from the time we entered Papakura," said tho inspector. "This did not appear to make any difference to defendant. He made no attempt to check his speed or behave in a rational manner." Heavy Traffic on Eoad Paces were held at Avondale that day and tho traffic on the road was heavy. When stopped, defendant sa 7 .d he was an entrant in the motor-cycle trial. "We did not believe him at first," said the inspector, "but wo later found it was true. Two constables at Papakura saw defendant's reckless dash, and an inspector also spoke to him in Hamilton." When the matter was reported to tho Commissioner of Transport, Mr. G. L. Laurenson, he directed that the prosecution bo expedited, as ho considered defendant to bo a menace on the road, tho inspector said. Defendant was fined £3 at Auckland on January 12 for dangerous speeding, and at Otahuhu on May 12 he was fined a further £3 for the same type of offence and hist driver's licence was cancelled for four months. Relatives of his wife had come to traffic officers complaining that ho was such a reckless rider that they feared for her life, as at times she rode pillion with him. Cause of Speed Defendant had boasted at Hamilton that he would be first back to Auckland and this had led the inspector there to warn him. Mr. S. D. Rice, for the defence, said defendant had smashed his headlamp at Mercer on the way up to Hamilton and tho reason for his fast speed coming back was that he wished to be home before dark. The motor-cycle had £inco been.,handed back to the people from whom he bought it. The magistrate. Mr. W. H. Freeman, imposed a fine of £5, with 10s costs, and prohibited defendant from holding a driver's licence for three years.