"DRASTIC" PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 14

"DRASTIC" PLAN.

GAOL FOR MOTORISTS. INTOXICATION CHARGE.. COMMENT BT MAGISTRATE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ROTORI'A. this day. Remarking that the penalties were drastic, but that they were necessary to check the increase in this class of offence. Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M.. in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court to-dav sentenced two motorists to terms of imprisonment on charges of being intoxicated while in charge of cars. The first charge was against a native named Kilward Davis, who pleaded not guilty. t ieorge Curtis stated that oil the night of January 21 as he was proceeding down the Tikitere Hill he saw a car off the road, and a native who appeared, to be attacking a Maori woman bv punching iu the face. He pulled up and the native asked him for a ride, but when he went to get into the car witness decided that he was under the influence of drink and refused to take him as t passenger. The woman also approached, the ,car and lie noticed that she was bleeding from the nose and mouth. Police witnesses stated that when they interviewed the defendant after the accident he said that he had been pushed into a bank by another car. but they formed the opinion that be was the worse for drink. Mavis, in evidence, claimed that lie had had only two drinks, and that his striking the woman had been accidental. I lie magistrate imposed a term of a fortnight's imprisonment, and prohibited. Davis from holding a driving license for live Years. I'lic second defendant was Stanlev kdgar A\ ill>hire. farmer, who entered a plea of guilty. 'I he police stated that Willsliire had been arrested when trying to start his car in the business area of the town He was obviously under the influence of liquor. x 'I'lie magistrate remarked that the doctor's certificate indicated that Willshire had been seriously intoxicated. Cases of drunken driving were becoming too frequent, and would have to be stopped. Defendant was to 14 days' imprisonment.