MOTORISTS SENT TO GAOL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19917, 2 May 1930, Page 14

MOTORISTS SENT TO GAOL.

MIXED WITH CRIMINALS. (FRB3S ASSOCIATION TBUBOBAU.) WELLINGTON, J'ay 1. Whether motorists convicted of manslaughter should be imprisoned with ordinary criminals was discussed af the Howard Penal Reform League meeting to-day. A remit was submitted declaring "that tbe whole question of punishments of motorists found guilty of offences under the Motor Vehicles Act, and in particular of manslaughter, be reviewed.*' Mr F. A. do la Mare contended that a man imprisoned for manslaughter as a result of a motor accident was not a criminal in tbe ordinary sense of the terra at all, and that to put sueh a man among the prison population was entirely wrong. Dr, Staley' referred to a case in which a motorist was drunk and killed an old woman and was fined £IOO. He was a jockey, and the fine was paid by a racing club. Shortly afterwards a young man of good family was sent to prison for a year for killing a little girl while driving at more than 25 miles an hour down a road. Mr de la Mare contended that these were cases for classification* Miss Baughan: - In many eases the cause is drunkenness. It was decided to, refer the remit back to the proposers for a definite case to be stated for discussion.