ERRING MOTORISTS

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 April 1949, Page 5

ERRING MOTORISTS

Department's Corrective Methods Defended

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA). — An additional 100,000 motorists would be hauled before the courts each year if every motorist who committed a breach of the traffic laws, however, trivial, was prosecuted, said the Minister of Transport (Mr. Hackett) in a statement issued today. He said such action was not his personal idea of British Justice; nor was it the policy of the Government. The Mimste r was replying to criticism of the administration of the Transport Regulations made by Mr. W. Carrol Harley, S.M., recently, in which the magistrate said the Commissioner of Transport was one of the few people in New Zealand who could say when the law was to be broken or observed. The magistrate considered it quite wrong to admit any system where it was in the hands of individuals outside the Court to say if an offender should be punished, it was lor the Court to decide whether or not a penalty should be imposed if a breach had been committed. “Nothing aroused more resentment and bitterness in the average Britisher than to be brought before the, Courts for offences that they, and even the Courts themselves, regard as trivial and ‘pinpricking’,’’ continued Mr. Hackett. “VVnen a traffic inspector of the Transport Department sees a motorist committing a breach of the traffic laws he stops motorists, and if it is only a minor breach, he explains the law and offers advice.” Mr. Hackett said that when an offence was sufficiently serious the inspector issued a traffic offence notice setting out the offence and which invited the motorist to submit an explanation in writing to the Commissioner of Transport in Wellington. Explanations were carefully considered .by experienced senior officers on the merits and nature of the offence, the explanation offered and the motorist's previous record. Officers then decided whether a prosecution was warranted, or a written warning. During 1948 a total of 10,217 offences were reported, 5303 prosecutions were taken and 4914 written warnings were given. For every offence reported there were aaout lu cases dealt with by verbal warning. “The department’s procedure liua been working now for 12 j ears, ana has produced reasonably good results,’ Mr. Hackett went on.” it is based on education rather than wholesale prosecutions, and is supported b} motorists generally.” The Minister said that it was not denied that a few motorists who were reported for the first time for offence .1 of a not very serious nature migh: put in a good story and get the beneii. of a warning, but motorists who committed serious breaches, persistent!; offended, were brought before a magistrate. Mr. Hackett added that he did no. claim the system was perfect, but 1 had been evolved from experience, and as the Minister in Charge, he waalways ready to consider improvements. He did not. consider if an improvement, however, to prosecute m all cases, however trivial. WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA). The lime within which the Commission is appointed to inquire into the treatment and dsposal of sewage hi the Auckland metropolitan drainage district, shall report has been extended from April 7, 1949. to April 30, 1949. This was announced in the Gazette tonight.