Caused Collision To Stop Car For Search

Press, Volume C, Issue 29637, 6 October 1961, Page 14

Caused Collision To Stop Car For Search

(New Zealand Press Association)

LEVIN, October 5. A fisheries inspector who admitted driving his car in front of another car on Waitarere beach to stop it was convicted in the Magistrate’s Court at Levin today on a charge of dangerous driving. The inspector, David McGregor, aged 32, of Porirua, was fined £lO and his licence was cancelled for 12 months. The driver of the other car, Edmund Ginty, a farming instructor, of Levin (Mr S. H. Philip), pleaded not Siilty to obstructing Mcregor in the executioon of his duty. He was fined £2.

Ginty said that with his wife and six children he went to the beach to look for toheroas. McGregor, wearing a tartan shirt and red, white and blue football socks, approached. Ginty’s wife said she did not like the look of McGregor, so they got in their car and drove off.

McGregor chased them along the beach in his car “rolling round on two wheels with sand flying.” Ginty said he thought McGregor must be mentally disturbed. McGregor was shaking his fist and tooting his horn. At the entrance to the beach turn-off McGregor “came right at him” and a collision occurred. Evidence on similar lines was given by Claire Ginty,

Kathleen Ball, David Albert, and Mickey Tatana. McGregor said he usually dressed for the work he intended to do. He saw Ginty with toheroas in his hands, and when Ginty’s car moved off he followed, with the intention of examining the toheroas for size. He drew alongside Ginty’s car, waved and tooted his horn, but got no response. Seeing Ginty was going to drive off the beach he tried to get on the ramp first to block the road. The collision was “very minor,” McGregor said, and no-one was endangered. McGregor told Mr D. G. Sinclair, S.M., he had deliberately driven in front of Ginty’s car, which had not changed direction.