ARGUMENT OVER FARE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 August 1930, Page 9

ARGUMENT OVER FARE.

DRUNKEN MAN PUNCHES TAXI

DRIVER. MAGISTRATE FINES HIM £3. As "the result'of a "night out"' on Saturday a draper, Sydney Hall, aged 25, was charged in the' Police Court this morning with being drunk in Shortlaud Street and with assaulting S. P. R. Mackie. Accused, who did not appeal-, was .fined £1 on the first charge-and £2 on the second by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.

The constable who made the arrest said that at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning a taxi driver complained to'him that lie had been, punched on the nose, from wbicli blood was Streaming He said that ;his assailant had gone up Shortlaud Street, and the constable pursued him. He overtook a man and asked him whether he was responsible, but he was too drunk to answer. The constable then arrested him.

Mackie,' the .taxi driver, said tlmt early on Sunday morning he -was on the Shortland Street taxi rank. He had first position on the rank. A young man was'standing-"by'the jeweller's shop and appeared to be very unsteady on liis feet. 5 Ho came across to the car and asked to be taken out to the Point Chevalier Hall.. He also inquired what the fare would he and was told that it would cost him 3/. He wished to pay only 2/6. Some argument followed, and then another ear came along. Hall said he' would take the other car,', but then said he would give witness 5/ to make the trip. "I told him that the fare would be 3/ only, and he hit me on the nose," added Mackie.