Supreme Court SENTENCE ON DRIVER

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29070, 5 December 1959, Page 11

Supreme Court SENTENCE ON DRIVER

“No Grounds For Appeal” “No grounds whatever” for allowing the appeal could be found by Mr Justice Macarthur, in the Supreme Court yesterday, when he dismissed appeals by

Frederick Maxwell Singer, a 42-year-old Social Security beneficiary, against conviction and sentence of one month's imprisonment imposed in the Magistrate's Court of driving under the influence of liquor and driving while disqualified. Four requests were made by Singer for a month's adjournment of the apneal, and his release on bail, during discussions on invitations by the Judge to substantiate his appeal. When two previous convictions on identical charges were mentioned by his Honour, Singer said: “Someone is sitting on my back.” He wanted to give Singer every opportunity to advance any argument, said his Honour, to show that the sentences were too severe. ,

“All I can say, as I have said before, there is someone behind the scene who are doing this sort of damages,” replied Singer. Singer had pleaded that the sentence would inflict a great hardship on himself and his family “in the future,” said his Honour. Singer should have thought of that before indulging in alcohol and driving a vehicle in the circumstances disclosed in the case. “I can find no grounds whatever for granting this appeal,” said his Honour. “Your record is a thoroughly bad one and I have, indeed, thought that it might be a case whete the sentence should be increased, rather than reduced. The appeal is dismissed.” “Thank you, your Honour,” said Singer as he left the dock.