POWER OF TRAFFIC INSPECTORS

Southland Times, Issue 23599, 29 August 1938, Page 8

POWER OF TRAFFIC INSPECTORS

PROPOSAL FOR ARRESTING DRUNKEN DRIVERS (United Press Association) HAWERA, August 26. Objection to the proposed legislation to give traffic inspectors the power to arrest drunken motorists was expressed at the annual conference of the North Island Motor Union, which was opened at Hawera this morning. Opinion was divided. The majority held that such legislation would be an encroachment on the liberty of the motoring public while others contended that motorists had nothing to fear.

Mr R. W. Roydhouse (Wairarapa), moving that the proposal to give the power of arrest to traffic inspectors should be rejected, said that the regu 7 lations provided inspectors with the power to stop any driver incapable of driving and also to remove his vehicle from the road. Power of arrest, therefore, was not necessary. Mr W. 0. Williams (South Taranaki) suggested that the police were quite capable of handling the situation. Mr E. Palliser (Wellington) said that the inspectors had no power to remove an offender from his car. In the case of an intoxicated driver an inspector would have to go away and call a policeman and •in the meantime the man could drive off and possibly kill someone. The saving of life was worth more to motorists than a few wrongful arrests. Mr F. A. Moore (New Plymouth) and Mr A. E. Batt (Wellington) said they considered that the inspectors should have the necessary authority in order to force drunken drivers off the road.

The inspectors did not have the necessary training, said Mr G. W. Hutchinson (Auckland). He said he thought the police could best handle the situation. This view was supported by Mr A. E. Renouf (Hawke’s Bay). The union did not want to protect drunken motorists but to protect members from an indignity to which they might be subjected, said Mr A. S. Burgess (Wanganui). Dr S. A. Gibbs (South Island Motor Union) said that his union had come to a decision that in the interests of the motorists themselves the power of arrest should be given to inspectors, especially in country districts. Special training, however, was necessary. On being put to the vote there was a substantial majority against the proposal.