MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28388, 21 September 1957, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

FRIDAY (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M.) TRAFFIC BREACHES “If you were not serving time in prison I would impose a pretty heavy fine, for the Court does not approve the action of a man who changes number plates," said the Magistrate, when convicting and discharging Duncan John McRae, who was charged with having incorrect number plates.

Inspector J. J. Halcrow said that Mcßae had hired a rental car and he had removed the plates from the car and replaced them with others he had borrowed from a friend. The defendant, who was serving a period of corrective training for a series of crimes, had admitted the offence.

Other offenders against the Traffic Regulations prosecuted by the Police Department were fined as follows:

Failing to give way: Islay Pattricia Denton, £4; Horau Tihura Tainui £3; Wesley Williams. £4; Alan Robert Millin, £4; Edward John Topp, £B. Driving without due care and attention: Cecil James Hall. £2 (failing to stop on demand of Constable, £3); Robert Rowe Hewett, £6; Hugh Murray Wards, £5; Ranceford John Blick. £2 (failing to stop on demand of constable, £4); Clarence Jordan, £4; Vilmos Rezos Simon. £5 (carrying pillion passenger while holder of L licence, £3); Victor Ward West, £4. Failing to notify sale of vehicle: John Thomas Harvey, £l. Crossing railway line when not clear: Daniel Spence, £3. Failing to stop at compulsory sign: Wilfred Malcolm Stretch, £3 (no warrant of fitness, £l.<

No warrant of fitness: Ernest George Henry Merrin, £l. Insufficient lights: Raymond Francis Blaxall, £1 10s (no warrant of fitness, £1).

No driver’s licence: Anthony Chadwick, £l. Selling motor-cycle without warrant of fitness: Graham Frederick Titheridge, £l.

Dangerous driving: Anthony Cyril Holland, £l2 and licence cancelled for 12 months (overtaking on incorrect side, £3; no safety helmet, £2). DECISION RESERVED

Decision was reserved on a charge against Lewis Romerill Sollitt of failing to give way. He was fined £1 for not]having a driver’s licence. CHARGE DISMISSED

A charge against Alexander Barlass of driving without due care was dismissed. REMANDED

A 17-vear-old girl, whose name was ordered not to be. published was remanded in custody until next Thursdav when she nleaded guilty to a charge of being id’e and disorderly on Thursday in that she had insufficient lawful visible means of supnort. Gordon Bruce Woodhead, aged 21, a workman, was remanded to Monday on a charge of stealing a typewriter valued at £2O. the nroperty of the Roneo Office Equipment Company, on September 13.

Bail was allowed in the sum of £2O and one surety of £5O. On a charge of unlawfully taking a motor-cycle at Christchurch on August 15 a 17-year-old vouth whose name was snonressed. was remanded to September 26. % Ball was allowed in the sum of £2O and one surety of £2O. (Before Mr L. N. Ritchie. S.M.) CHARGE DISMISSED

A charge of driving without due care and attention, against Margaret Olive Burns, was dismissed. THREE BREACHES

For failing to give way. Walter Reginald Clough was fined £3. He was fined £1 for having no warrant of fitness for a car. and £1 for having no warrant for a trailer. (Before Mr E’. A. Lee. S.M.) DRIVER CONVICTED

Graham Charles Thompson (Mr W. F. Brown), who pleaded not guilty, was convicted and fined £1 on a charge of failing to stop at a class 2 ston sign at the intersection of Milton and Strickland streets on the evening of Julv 21.

The defence claimed the ston sign was difficplt to see, especially in the poor visibility at the time, chieflv because it was attached to a shop veranda post, which was painted an orange-cream colour, and not the white colour as demanded bv regulations. “T am satisfied the sign complied with the regulations, but ♦here may be some question as ♦o its effectiveness.” said the Magistrate. in entering a conviction. The Magistrate also held that Thompson had failed to see four points drawing attention to the fact that the compulsory ston existed. He considered Thompson had been travelling too fast to see them. He said he would take into account the poor visibility at the time in imposing a penalty.