INTERESTS OF MOTORISTS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1932, Page 10

INTERESTS OF MOTORISTS

BY-LAW BREACHES ON TOUR.

QUESTION OF TAKING EVIDENCE.

The necessity for motorists who commit by-law breaches in towns other than their place of residence to give evidence in the courts' of those towns was brought before the committee of the South Taranaki Automobile Association at Hawera bn Friday night by a letter from the North Island Motor Union. It was decided to support any endeavours to obtain an amendment that would permit the evidence to be taken in the town where-the- motorist resides.

. The position, was that an Auckland motorist, for instance, might be guilty of a breach of a by-law at Rotorua; if he wished to defend the case he had to attend the court at Rotorua in person, st?,ted the letter. The requests of the union had from time to time been declined. There was no principle at stake in the granting of the union’s application, but there was, however, ’ a principle at stake in that the refusal of the Government to allow evidence to be taken elsewhere in motoring cases than at the court of hearing was, in effect, in a very large number of cases preventing defendants from having their cases heard. One of the points that had been entirely overlooked by Ministers of Justice and their advisers was that the law had to grow, and iii this particular instance the law had failed to keep pace with the developments of motor transport. Various cases could be cited instancing the fact that the law had to grow to meet changing conditions. , At present many travelling motorists were placed at a disadvantage owing tothe expense they' would be put to .in transporting themselves and their witnesses to the place of hearing,' and in a o-reat number of instances they allowed convictions to i go against them when, if there were some reasonable method of* placing, their cases before the courts, no conviction could be entered. Tri cases 'in which the police were prosecuting it' could easily be arranged for the local- police at the place where the evidence was being taken to have the file sent to them so that they could,. if desired, cross-examine witnesses.

As to the argument that the defendant should be confronted by his accusers, this did not apply. If the defendant. owing to' the exigencies of the case, personally waived his right to be confronted by the informants, that was his affair. Moreover, if the accused had -his evidence taken elsewhere that, was to some extent to his detriment, as evidence taken on. commission could not have the same weight with a magistrate as that given in his presence. Several committee members, endorsed the opinions expressed in the union’s letter. :' ; ’' ’ / ' /'

SHOW DATES AND MEDALS.

EGMONT A. AND P. MEETING.

Show dates and the allocation of North Island medals were received by the Egmorit A. and P. Association’s committee at its meeting on Saturday. Mr. .C. H. Washer presided over a good attendance. . The dates given were: Poverty Bay, October 26/and 27; Manawatu (Royal), November 2,'3 and 4; Egmont, November 9 and 10; Stratford, November 16 and 17; Horowhenua, January 24 and 25; Feilding, January 31 and February 1; Darmevirke, February 7 and 8; Pahiatua, February 10; Masterton, February 14 and 15; Marton, February 23; Taranaki, March 8 and 9 (winter, June 6-9). Rangitikei has been advised to adopt March 2. / Medals have been allotted as follows: Hunter, Wairarapa and E.C.; hack, Masterton; Milking Shorthorn, bull and cow, Waikato; Romney ram and ewe (n.c.), Waikato;' Friesian bull and cow, Auckland; Tamworth boar and e-ow, Auckland; middle white boar and;sow, Auckland; large black, boar and sow, Auckland; Jersey bull and cow, Feilding; Romney ram and ewe (open), Dannevirke; Southdown ram and ewe (open), Marton; Southdown ram and ewe (n.c.), Egmont; Berkshire boar and sow, Egmont; large white boar and sow, Horowhenua.

TE ROTI GENERAL NEWS.

DANCE AND PERSONAL ITEMS.

The second of a series of euchre parties and dances was held on Tuesday by the members of the Tennis Club. The ladies’ first prize was won by Mrs. Bloor with 14 games. Miss Startup with 13 crames was second. Mrs. Grierson won the ladies’ travelling prize. Mr. iC. Smith won the men’s first prize with 15 games, Mr. E. Sharp was ' second with 13 games and the men’s travelling prize was 5 won by Mr. R. Kelsen. The travelling prizes were donated by Mrs. J. Cleaver. Mrs. Bennet played the music for the dance and Mr. E. Sharp was master of ceremonies.

Mr. o and Mrs. R. Cockerton and Mrs. G. Cockerton have returned from a motor trip to the Waikato. Miss Mary Dawson, Matamata, is staying with her aunt, Mrs. C. Bloor. Air. and Mrs. Robert Cockerton have left for their new home at Putararu, Rotorua district.

Miss Tess Kelly, who has been very ill, is still in bed but her condition is much improved.

HAWERA THEATRES.

“TARZAN” FINALLY TO-NIGHT.

Johnny Weissmuller, world’s champion swimmer, plays the title role 1 in “Tarzan, the Ape Man,” which will be shown finally at the Hawera Opera House tonight. Due to his tremendous physical build, he is almost an exact personification of Tarzan. His body is shown swimming through the trees and in hazardous encounters with jungle beasts. Swimming sequences in the production are a very interesting demonstration of the technique that has enabled the aquatic star to win and hold .most of the world’s records for speed in water. The plot of the Burroughs story is more or less familiar to the millions of readers who have followed the adventures of the famous fictional character. At the Grand Theatre “Viennese Nights” will be shown finally to-night.