RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30686, 27 February 1965, Page 26

RANDOM REMINDER

JUSTICE

She wu a busy woman and like most mothers, often had thrust on her duties which may not be covered In any of the domestic science courses. Such as being responsible for having the toaster repaired. It was probably something to do with the fact that her family spoiled her and let her have the car sometimes to run these errands. At all events the day she took the toaster in to be repaired she was forced to doublepark outside the shop. And when she returned there, with a pencil poised like the sword of Damocles, was a gentleman from the Transport Department Yes, she realised that technically, she had committed an offence, but she had not been more than,

well, five minutes and he would understand how imperative it was that the toaster be repaired. No, funnily enough, she could not find her driving licence. It was usually in her handbag but she must have left it at home. Yes, there was the warrant of fitness on the windscreen. Surely not expired? It had at least four months to go, so it was quite impossible that it should have been renewed two months earlier. Well wasn’t a warrant valid for a year? The scene shifts to the lady’s home, several weeks later. Inside, she and her husband are playing cards with his brother and his sister-in-law. Outside, at the door, was a weary, cold, law enforcement officer with a missive, on blue

paper. The man of the house was known to one and all for the warmth of his hospitality, and as the officer was of Caledonian descent, what more natural than that he should be invited inside to cast off the chill by the fire, indulge in a dram or two and enjoy the intellectual stimulation of a few hands of cards. When all was done, about midnight, it was discovered that three of the players had broken even, but the lady of the house had won thirty shillings. Which pointed to the fact that the officer lost it.

It seemed, to the rest of the household, only right and proper that the Magistrate, after considering all the extenuating circumstances, imposed a fine <rf one pound ten shillings.