MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 68, 25 March 1929, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

STRATFORD SITTING. The fortnightly sitting of the Stratford Court wias held to/day hotoro Mr R, W. Tate S.M. JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT. Judgment was given, for plarhtiff by default in the following undefended civil cases: Taranaki Trade Association (Mr Moss) v. A. \Visnewski, £2 Us 3d, costs £1 7s 6d; same v. T. .McDonald, £3 7s 6d, costs £1 7s Cd; .11. V, Kay (Mr Thomson v. Mrs A. G. Gooch, £3 os, costs £1 5s 6d. ERRING MOTOR CYCLIST. William (J. Good) was charged! with driving a motor cycle at a speed greater than 15 miles per hour when approaching i the intersection of Began Street and, Broadway. Defendant pleaded guilty.

Sergeant Power said defendant's speed was estimated at 35 miles per hour. Asked for an explanation, defendant, said ho had just had! the machine overhauled and ho was .giving it a try-out. It was a. dangerous thing, said the Sergeant, to use Broadwav for the purpose. In inflicting a fine of 40/-, with costs. 12/-, the S.M. said he was getting a little tired of young fellows driving motor cycles who came .before him. Defendant should tell his motor cycle companions that the Court intended to raise the fine, progressively for such offences from 40/-. There was no earthly reason why motor cyclists should career over intersections at the risk of 7 , their own and other people's lives. William Brewster plealded not guilty to a charge of driving a motbr cycle in a manner dangerous to the public, in Page Street. Constable Ruston gave evidence that defendant, on turning info Broadway, narrowly missed a collision with a motor car proceeding 'north. There was a good deal of traffic in Broadway at the time. Defendant said he did not 1 know the speed he was going at. Sergeant Power gave corroborative evidence. He said defendant's speed was at least 25 miles an hour'. In evidence, defendant said hia machine was in second gear, having just been started. He thought l he could get ewer in front of the car from the south. In top gear his machine could do 40 miles per hour, and in second gear would do about! 15. The machine was a two-sfroke one, and the explosions were twice as many as in the case of a fourstroke machine. The frequent explosions gave a suggestion of high speed. To Sergeant Power: The machine was in high gear when stopped, but in second gear on turning the corner. Dudley Neilson, clothing salesman New Plymouth, who was riding on the pillion, also gave evidence. He thought the speed round the corner would not exceed twelve miles per hour. Sergeant Power said he was standing in front of the police station about 60 yards away. As soon as he saw the cycle turn the corner be stepped into the road, and the cycle reached him before he got to the middle of the road. The S.M. said defendant said he had been driving for five years, but be seemed to have become careless. The standard of driving was very bad, and when something was dons, which attracted the attention c£ the police it must be pretty bad. In the present case the worst aspect was that defendant did not realise he had done wrong, and he sought to justify himself. Something must be done to bring motor cyclists into line _they were a perfect nuisance. Defendant's license would be suspended for three months, and he a-ould be ordered to pay 10 costs. Mr Tate advised defendant to study the regulations during the next three months, and try to drive more carefully in future.