TRAFFIC CONTROL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17009, 6 April 1923, Page 8

TRAFFIC CONTROL.

TALK OF MANY THINGS. VIEWS OF STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE. By-law day at the Christchurch Ma gistrate's Court is conspicuous for the rapidity with which cases are disposed of ; but in the quick exchanges between Bench and Bar as to the rights and wrongs of the multifarious cases that come up there are frequently heard ideas and suggestions which have the freshness of inspiration. By-law day to day was more than ordinarily interest ing on that account.

The city motor and traffic inspector (Mr H. Macintosh) at one stage said to the Magistrate (Mr Wyvern Wilson) that discrimination was shown in the matter of bringing offenders against the by-laws before the Court. The glaring cases were never let go. “But when an inspector starts to discriminate between breaches of the by-laws, and begins to let some go. then I think he will get into a hopeless muddle.” said the Magistrate. “He will leave himself open to questions. The inspector should not say, 1 I will let this man oft'. 5 and ‘ That one I will prosecute.’ If he detects any breach -J the by-laws, he should prosecute.*’ Anon there came up a case in which William C. Sanders, the owner of the observation car. was charged with allowing the car to remain too long in the one place. The Magistrate observed that the time would come when a change would have to be made. Observation cars, and the cars for Akaroa and Hanmer. would have to start from some other place to relieve congestion in tho Square. People might not be able to accustom themselves to the change, but in the interests of all it would have vo bo made sooner or later. Mr Macintosh . The suggestion is that the motor service cars should leave Moorhouse Avenue, near the railway station. People like the Square, though, because the cars are so near th** trams. The Magistrate: Well, the tram service runs through to the station ! The Square is becoming too much of a railway station at present! The defendant (Sanders) : At the race meeting one day there were thirty-three trams and trailers in the Square at once. The Magistrate : Yes. There will be no room for anyone else, otherwise there will be danger. Sanders: Are the trams entitled to the monopoly ? The Magistrate : Well, I suppose so. - - If thev have trams starting from the Square. Personally 1 should advocate starting nothing from the Square, and putting the, corners down in grass and t-ees and making it a place of bc&ut.y. If they are going to keep it a starting plact? for Tramcars then all these other vehicles will have to go out.” Several charges of leaving cars unattended were heard. The Magistrate was prompted to say that there were numerous cases where persons left cars standing for long intervals on the road side at places that were not specificaliy set apart as parking areas. There nas an instance of this in Armagh Street, near Oxford Terrace. Mr J. B". Cuningham. who was appearing for a defendant in one of these cases, said that circumstances sometimes compelled one to leave his car m such places .at times. The defendants in these Cases were treated leniently, being fine each 5s and costs. .‘‘Do (ho inspectors occasional); of the city and K™ stmst *'•»* -h Jhciifos'u No. sir. That is not done. The Magistrate: Well, it seems an Yidi^° US .°* testing whether people not. are drmn * We '-ertiHcatc, or Mr Macintosh; Very few drivers when they pull up i„ the street, rel main in their oars. That is the trouble about unattended cars To. mediately they stop they rush out, and ca^and'off f" a " d ° Ut into a 'nnmbj agi f' ato: AVell ' 1 quite * m ™ b ® r of I'Orsons getting in and out of their cars! Moointesh : With the staff Jt our Dortunit ' i o' ' l,ttle timp °r '>Pj' 01 ?, ‘>"t myself. There ■ the testing to be done, motor-evoies •rtwT 8 m sj* !ctc : 1 :’j 5 tlrae > and cars the cthet 5 . Then there is the tracing oi enrs and other information The .Magistrate; Well, 'something will have to he .lone. k „f S t r ,J Ia - < 7 to l ? b :F ," r tho ("formation it mo, onsts I might say that a raid is going to take place slmrtlv. Tile Magistrate - finn’f - , much notice Ofht*! g "' e to °