DRINKING HABITS ON WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26363, 6 March 1951, Page 8

DRINKING HABITS ON WEST COAST

JUDGE’S ADDRESS TO GRAND JURY (Feos* Our Owe Reporter) GREYMOUTH, March 5. For the second time in less than 12 months, West Coast drinking habits were the subject of comment by Mr Justice Northcroft at the opening of yesterday’s sitting of the Supreme Court at Greymouth. In his address to the grand jury, winch had to deal with only one case *-* charge of intoxicated driving causing injury and, alternatively, alleged negligent driving, his Honour said: “It is unfortunate that on the West Coast for a number of sessions the only criminal matters for trial by jury have bad to do with motor-cars and drink, and drinking after hours. “I have spoken about this previously and I understand that what I had to say then about unconventional hours was not entirely popular on the West Coast May I say this. If the West Coast people are determined to drink at unconventional hours, it is unfortunate that they should be accompanied by motor-cars. A motor-car in the hands of a person drunk, or only affected by drink is a dangerous instrument and there have been a number of cases far too many in recent times. The only criminal cases have been about people drinking more than they should at times when they had no right to be drinking, and went oft in a motor-car. “If West Coast people are determined to drink at unconventional hours, they should go back to horses, cycles, or their feet, as they are less dangerous to other people,” concluded his Honour