DRIVER'S LICENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 9

DRIVER'S LICENCE

SUIT FOlt SUSPENSION

SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "Tho Evenino Post.")

CHRISTCHUECH, This Day

A case of major significance to motorists and the public of New Zealand 'was .heard before Mr. ']3. D.. Mosley, 5.M.,. yesterday, .when, the Southern Union. Genera) Insurance Company asked for -an order suspending the of. William MUlner, contractor, on the ground' that'lie- was -a danger to tho public. The application was made under Secton 14,0f the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Kisks) Act, 1928, and is the first of its kind iu'New Zealand. Mr. AY. l'\ Traeey appeared, for the Company and Mr., A. (':- Hanlpu-,- K.Q., of Dunedin, and Mr. •M. W. Simes represented Millnor. .. .Til its statement the company set out. that "the application .was made, on the ground that the. safety", of the public was "being unduly endangered by Mi liner.'. '.The: .company ; also applied for .aiV order, "disqualifying. Millner from obtaining "another licence for such porod as the. Court might think" fit. Millner. was also .charged, on the -information, of fhe company, with driving ,on 2.3rd". March in. a mariner" .°da'ngerpii3 to! tho. public. .."" He."pleaded, not guilty. In Regard to. the ipplicatio'n for suspension, of Millner'slicence,':Mi:.. Tracy said 'the "Act under which it was made Mr 'as' intended, to provide.for the" covering of .third party" risks of aU'.drivers ■iii".N.ew..Zea.la"nd. 'Pn"isth October,. 1929, Millher' had beeti ■convicted.. of. being intoxicated while in' charge of a car; :o).i.'..that. occasidli' he had .collided, with a P." and. T. Department!truck,, and -had bolted, off;.on loth April, 1931, he had been .convicted of negligent driving and of. failing to report an accident... He li.ad knocked-, down a motor-cyclist and there was a claim against him now.for :£20.00.." " ■..;-.; , :;;, . Mr. Hanl^.n .pointed but. that though 'the' Act had"been in force since 1928, <tnd there liad since then'beph'.'thous'arids of claims all o.ver.'New .Zealand, tho Southern Union had. been " the : first, ,to be unsportsmanlike 'enough': to" 'try .to escape from its 'liabilities, : .. .'He would prove that IViillner..had taken" "his other insnrances'. away froth. '.the.. Southern Union Company, and the 'fiompdnyijseeihg that it was left with tho risks of his third party risk, and. had lost. Ms £60 or £70 of premiums, had decided to cpmo to the Magistrate to get his licence' taken away.- " There is nothing before youto-day that was not "before you before, .except an attempt .to prove this accident in which "Milliter was alleged to:: be involved,' aftlung they have.utterly failed to do,". .Mr, Xfonion concluded.'. '' _ ' "', '. .-; " The defend ant was called'as" a ivitness by Mr. Haiiloh. "This is thciirst case of its kind that has ever cropped up to my knowlcdgo in Ne^y Zealand," said"the' Magistrate, "and I think it deserves a; little: consideration. , Judgment is reserved on both points." •'