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Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 141, 11 March 1938, Page 15

Two unusual excuses were made bydefendants in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch, when cases arising out of offences against the traffic regulations were being heard. The novelty of one, a statement that he. had been “submerged in income tax forms and figures” and so had left his car parked for longer than the time limit, caused a smile from the magistrate, Mr. E. C. Levvey, who imposed a penalty of costs only. That his heavy truck was overloaded, carrying five and a half tons instead of three and a half, was buted by counsel for another defendant to the timber which constituted the load having been out in the rain and having become very wet, and so considerably heavier. An analysis had shown that the timber contained two-thirds water and one-third fibre, and, as the load was made up on superficial measurement, the defendant was not aware that the weight of the timber constituted an overload. 1