HIT SAFETY ZONE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 154, 1 July 1940, Page 3

HIT SAFETY ZONE.

CAR IN QUEEN STREET.

DRIVER INTOXICATED.

PRISON FOR SEVEN DATS.

Edward Longley Matthew (24), a butcher, who was arrested on Saturday night after the car he was driving had collided with a safety zone on the ■southern side of Victoria Street, admitted in the Police Court to-day that he was in a state of intoxication while in charge of the vehicle.

Senior-Sergeant Joyce said the car was extensively damaged as the result of the collision with the safety zone. Hearing a crash at 11.40 p.m., Constable Holly went to the car and found Matthew intoxicated. Later Matthew was examined by Dr. Pettit, who certified that he was unfit to have charge of the car. "Matthew admitted to the police that on Saturday night he had six or seven gins," added Mr. Joyce.

Mr. J. J. Sullivan, who appeared for accused, said Matthew had never been in any trouble before. As he would shortly be taking his part in the defence of the Empire counsel asked that he be not sent to prison. Injuries suffered when his car struck the safety zone made Matthew's condition appear worse than it actually was.

"I cannot see that I can make an exception in this case," Mr. J. Morling, S.M., said. "It is just as well for the public to know what the consequences are."

Matthew was sentenced to seven days'. imprisonment and he was disqualified from holding a license to drive a car for 12 months.