TAXI-DRIVER FINED

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 110, 3 February 1938, Page 15

TAXI-DRIVER FINED

Second Accident At Same Locality When Harry Gilbert Moncrieff, taxidriver, Lower Hutt, was charged at the Magistrates’ Court, Petone, yesterday, with dangerous driving, and with driving without due care and attention, he’stated in evidence that at the locality where he had the collision as the result of which he was charged, he had had an accident some years ago in which he was so severely injured-that it was thought he would not live, I He was fined £3 and costs by Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., for driving without due care and attention. The police case, conducted by SeniorSergeant H. C. D. Wade, was that a car driven by William Ebenezer Hislop, com pany director, Hastings, had proceeded a short distance north along the Hutt Road after coming from Udy Street, when it was struck from behind by a taxi driven by Moncrieff. Mr. I. Macarthur represented Moncrieff Hislop said he had gone 75 feet along the Hutt Road when there was a terrific crash from behind, and his ear was pushed forward. Moncrieff s car overtook his, tearing the guards off, passing in front, mounting the kerb, and striking a fence. He had been driving since 1909. Asked if his hearing was good, Moncrieff, who wore a hearing-aid device, said he could usually hear a motorh°Jo’seph McLaren, Abel Smith Street, Wellington, said he thought Moncrieff s car hit Hislop's. r Keith R. Smith, carpenter, Lower Hutt, said the taxi appeared to attempt to pass between Hislop s car and statement made by Moncrieff to the effect that he was positive Hislop s car overtook him was produced by Constable R Griffith. Moncrieff stated he had two elderly women passengers in the of whom had just been released from hospital, and was driving slowly. Constable L. A.Satherley said Moncrieff told him that Hislops cai came out from Udy Street and shot across Hutt Hoad in front of him. _ Moncrieff said he had had a taxi ' iccn for six years and had driven commercial vehicles for 17 years. He had as passengers tha flay t wo women, one 01 whom had just come out of hospital, an< when he called there for her he was requested by the hospital authorities to take particular care as she was in a weak state. For this reason he was drmn o most carefully. “Reason to Remember.”

He had reason to remember the mtersection of Udy Street and Hutt Road because several years before, through no fault of his, he had a collision with a lorry, as the result of which his car was burnt and he was five months in hospital. He always exercised great care He slowed down his car approaching the intersection and sounded his horn. Two car lengths over the intersection he felt a bang at the rear of his car, which was pushed across the road into a fence-Cross-examined, he said that though he had only one eye his eyesight was perfect; he had tests every year. He had had only one eye since he was six; ne was. now 47. Miss Julia Cleary, Moiling, a passenger in Moncrieff’s taxi, said the speed was slow and she saw no car ahead, lhe taxi was struck from behind. _ Mr. Lawry held that the evidence was not sufficient to establish dangerous driving. Apparently what happened was that notwithstanding his previous accident at the point, Moncrieff was not keeping a sufficient look-out there.