TOO MANY FATALITIES

Evening Post, Issue 27, 31 July 1935, Page 10

TOO MANY FATALITIES

MOTOR-CAR ACCIDENTS

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE

AN INTOXICATED DRIVER

"It is useless making such an application," said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today, when counsel asked that the licence of a man guilty of being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car be not affected. "There were 182 deaths last year owing to motor accidents, and many of those deaths are caused by over-indulgence in liquor. . . . The Courts must take a stand and must do their best to put down, if possible, the driving of motorcars by persons in a state of intoxication. The loss caused to the community by deaths in the last few years is ridiculous. I notice that the Automobile Association and motorists' organisations are doing their best to educate the public, and the Courts will have to do their part in punishing offenders when they come before them."

The accused was Colin Robert Bate, an insurance agent, aged 25, and he pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car in Wakefleld Street last night.,He was fined £10 and his licence was suspended until December 31. He was allowed a month in which to pay. Sub-Inspector C. E. Roach said that at 11.20 last night a traffic inspector was on patrol duty in Wakefleld Street, and when he was nearing the intersection with Tory Street he saw the accused approaching, swerving from side to side. When he was about to pass the accused Bate swerved towards him and narrowly missed him. The accused was travelling at a moderate speed, said the witness, but the erratic driving caused the inspector to turn round and follow him. Turning from Wakefleld Street into Jervois Quay Bate narrowly missed hitting a clock-pole. The inspector overtook him outside the old Wellington City Council power station and noticed immediately that he was intoxicated; his speech was thick and he smelt strongly of liquor. He said he had been to a party. The accused, added Sub-Inspector Roach, was a young married man and was in business until recently. He had been before the Court before, for disorderly behaviour at Ngaio. Mr. M. G. Neal, who appeared for Bate, said that it was not a very serious case —the intoxication was not ad-

vanced. The Magistrate: He would probably be less dangerous if he were in an absolutely pronounced state of intoxication. Counsel said the erratic driving was caused.by the rolling of a cigarette and by the accused putting on his gloves. Bate had met an uncle who had taken him to his hotel. Bate was not used to liquor, and the drinks affected him more than they would some people.

Application for suppression of name was refused, the Magistrate saying that he never took that course in such cases.