MOTORISTS AND WHISKY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19120, 1 October 1927, Page 14

MOTORISTS AND WHISKY.

S.I.M.U. RESOLUTION. "MORE DRASTIC PENALTIES." '•'A man may have whisky, or he may have a car. but he cannot have both." said Mr A. E. Ansell, president, commenting on the annual report, presented at the seventh annual meeting of the South Island Motor Union, held yesterday afternoon in ChristchurcJi.

"A friend of mine, whose views are exceptionally strong in this matter, has suggested eapital punishment," he said (Laughter.) "Of course we cannot go as far as that, but we should certainly press for much heavier penalites on transgressors. "We, as motorists, look upon drunkenness in a man who has charge of a car as a very serious menace, not only to the pedestrians, but to fellow-motor-ists," said Mr Ansell. "In this matter we should take a very firm stand."

Mr T. F. Macdonald (Southland) moved the following remit: "That in the opinion of • the South Island Motor Union more drastic penalties should be inflicted upon drivers convicted of driving motor-vehicles while under the influence of liquor." He added to the remit: "And that the Union ask the Associations to impress on their members, the advisability of abstaining from spirituous liquors ■when driving cars." "We know what the results of this offence are," said Mr Macdonald. "I was told the other day that a certain Magistrate in England Jiad stated that 75 per cent, of the accidents were due to liquor. Whisky and cars . won't mix.'? , Mr H. P. Desmoulins (Otago) seconded the remit. Mr H. Halliday (Otago) said that as the Statute stood, it meant, that a man who had had one drink and sitting in His car was committing an offence. There were, occasions vrhen a motorist, realising that he was not in a lit state to drive, stopped his car. Then, if he was found in it, he was guilty of an offence. Mr F. W. Johnston (Canterbury) said that they should not pass a remit that would hold them up as "wowsers." He could only support the first part of the remit. "I'm nOt in favour, however, of people driving cars when even only slightly under the influence of liquor," added Mr Johnston. The remit was carried without the addition.