In brief

Press, 15 September 1988, Page 5

In brief

Call to tax, label porn Pornography should be taxed and labelled, as with health warnings on cigarette packets, the Committee of Inquiry into Pornography was told yesterday. The Auckland University Men Against Sexism group said there was a fine line between pornography, erotica and certain advertising. “Attitudes and the lies pornography tells us about women” needed to be countered by education in schools and news media, the group said. Loophole to be closed A loophole that helped an Auckland businessman avoid a conviction, in spite of having nearly double the legal limit of alcohol in his blood, is expected to be closed soon. Chief Inspector Barry Matthews, of the Auckland police legal section, said yesterday that an amendment to the Transport Act was before Parliament. A drink-driving charge against Daniel Angland, aged 42, of Torbay, was dismissed last week because the arresting officer failed to prove Angland held a driver’s licence when arrested.—PA From bad to worse Four youths from Green Bay had a bad day on Tuesday. Their car broke down in Devonport and rather than walk home they stole a car from the Stanley Point wharf area, Takapuna police said. But in their rush to get away, they turned down Stanley Point Road — a no-exit street — and crashed into a tree near the house of a traffic officer, Senior Chief Instructor Alan Wright. Watched by residents, who gave descriptions to police, the youths fled on foot. A police-dog unit was called to the area. After a traffic officer saw footprints in the sand, the dog, Ryka, found the four hiding in bushes 20m up the Stanley Point cliff. One suspect kicked at the dog and was bitten on the calf, the dog’s handler, Constable Steve Shadbolt, said. Ministry of Transport officers assisted in bringing in the suspects.—PA Hero for ditching truck A Blenheim driver has been hailed a hero after turning his truck-and- trailer unit into a soggy ditch to avoid a collision with a van, full of children, north of Nelson yesterday. Mr William Columbus, aged 42, clambered out of the truck virtually unhurt. Traffic Officer Graeme Palmer said the truck was travelling from Nelson to Blenheim on State, highway 6 when the accident happened at 3.45 p.m. “The truck-driver had to make a quick decision — whether to hit the van full of children or put the truck into the ditch,” Mr Palmer said. Vehicle blown off road A Dunedin man was admitted to Balclutha Hospital yesterday after his car was blown, off the road north of Balclutha. Mr Arthur Brehaut, the driver of the car, was reported to be in a satisfactory condition. The accident occurred at Stony Creek, between Milton and Balclutha, about 11.30 a.m. The car was blown off the road and on to a bank. The Ministry of Transport at Balclutha said the driver tried to regain the road, but the car rolled over.— PA.