REFRACTORY BUS-OWNER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 829, 25 November 1929, Page 11

REFRACTORY BUS-OWNER

NO HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENCE WARNING BY MAGISTRATE John Paton, of Clevedon, made another appearance before Mr. F. H Levien, S.M., at the Otahuhu Magistrate’s Court this morning. He was charged with operating heavy passenger vehicles between Papakura and Clevedon without taking out the necessary heavy traffic licences. Mr. C. M. Clarke, inspector for the Manuliau County Council, said defendant’s buses had been on the road for five years, travelling twice daily between Papakura and Clevedon, carrying mails and school children. Witness had repeatedly remonstrated with Paton, but up to the present no action had been taken, except an offer of a post-dated cheque. In answer to the magistrate as to why no licence had been taken out. Paton said he was already heavily Taxed and did not see why he should take out any more. Pie was hard up against it. The magistrate said defendant was I now considerably in pocket through paying fines instead of licences. He was not entitled to use the roads for a portion of any day unless licences were taken out. Paton told the Bench the bus was not worth running. The Magistrate: Well, take it off the road. Let the school children get to school as best they can. In adjourning cases till December f>. the magistrate told Paton to take out the licences, but if he was still too pugnacious or pig-headed to take this advice, he, the magistrate, would know what course to take. The clerk of the court told the magistrate that the previous fine of £IOO had not yet been paid.