THE LAW’S DELAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17016, 14 April 1923, Page 13

THE LAW’S DELAY.

- THE MAYOR AND THE BY-LAWS.

BETTER METHODS URGED. *• Twenty constables, a sergeant, a tumor sergeant, a clerk ot court, and a >1 agintrate were in Court yesterday when the by law cases came up. uto ay or said tu-dav. “ Practically all t! 0.-'o charged pleaded guilty. The pro* iii-ding* took two hours and a quarter. The cases could have been dealt- with adequately on the Chicago methods, and mucli time could have been saved ic scores of persons. When a driver of a car or ; t motor-bike offends in Chi- j c* go his numl>er is taken, he is lined L'.l straight away, and if it is not paid within forty eight hours his license is cancelled. If he feels that he should not be tilled, he can appeal*. We should have that method in Christchurch. •* The Magistrate yesterday admitted it is overworked. There’s fai too much fW him to do. People concerned in cases might have to attend at 10 n.m. iitid bang about until 12.15. as I did, or until the middle of tlie afternoon, no natter what business of their own they r.av have. i saw barristers and solicitors yesterday waiting at the Court lor cases to be called on. It is unccoiwmical and absurd. “ Traffic regulations in Christchurch want remodelling and enforcing. Steps should betaken to prevent evasion of punishment for breaches of the bj’-laws. It is absurd to see solicitors using technicalities and yards of red-tape—red-T-tpe entanglements, really—and making proceedings most bizarre. It must tf!n! to make the presiding justice testy and touchy.” The Mayor has given notice to move at next meeting of five City Council: " That the incoming council should at ©net* -<ot tip a special committee to amend all unreasonable, out-of-date and effete by-laws, and in doing this call to its advice delegates from those sec- i tions of the community particularly in- I forested. 11 eh as the Automobile As so elation and the Drivers’ Union, in connection w > h wheeled traffic, acting in Ctnjuncton with tb® City Solicitor.”