MOTOR BY-LAWS

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 24 January 1925, Page 2

MOTOR BY-LAWS

FARMERS’ CRITICISM A QUESTION OF IGNORANCE. WIDER ADVERTISING SUGGESTED. At a meeting of the Fanners’ Union held yesterday, members took strong exception to the position in which the farmers of Southland were placed in regard to the motor by-laws of Invercargill. The secretary of the Waiau branch wrote enclosing the following remit for consideration by the executive .-“That the regulations and bydaws relating to the regulating and control of motor traffic in the Invercargill Borough and the administrating of same be so amended as to be understood by and press less heavily on the farming community.” Mr J. Carnegie Gardner said that few farmers were conversant with the by-laws. Not only were the laws of Invercargill traffic obscure as far as the farmers were concerned but fanners suffered considerably both in loss of time and expense when compelled to appear at Court on trivial charges. The farmer was compelled to pay Is per mile for the issuing of the summons. He also had to miss at least two days in attending Court besides solicitors’ fees, etc., and as a result he might be forced to pay up to £lO for a trivial offence. “We are not getting fair treatment,” continued Mr Gardner. “None of us know the by-laws, and they are always being altered. If the Municipal authorities want us to be patriotic and patronise the town, they w'ill have to treat us better.” Mr J. Crampton also expressed his dissatisfaction with the present conditions. He considered that in almost all cases of minor offences against the by-laws, a warning would be sufficient. Mr J. D. Trotter suggested that the authorities be asked to widely advertise the present by-laws so the farmers could become conversant with them. The Chairman (Mr A. McKenzie) : “I think a strong letter should be sent to the Council.” Mr Gardner suggested that every motorist registered in Southland be issued with a copy of the by-laws. Mr Dickie said notices should be prominently displayed, pointing out parking places. Mr Gardner also complained that each town had different laws. In Dunedin he was moving slowly past a tramcar and a policeman ordered him to get a move on. It was decided by the meeting to write, asking the Council to forward a copy of the bylaws to every motorist registered in Southland and further that first offenders receive only a warning as punishment.