DRUNKEN MOTORIST

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 11

DRUNKEN MOTORIST

FINE OF £10

The bleak conditions last Saturday led Edward William Lockett to go to the Taita Hotel and have four drinks of rum after golf, and this in turn led to his. appearance in the Lower Hutt Court today charged with being intoxicated in charge of a car. He. pleaded guilty.. .■-.'■-. : ~ '.

Sergeant'J. W.McHolm said-that at 5.13 p.m. last Saturday Lockett was driving towards Lower Hutt _ from Taita. On the. road, down he. met the traffic inspector. .As the result of Loekett's driving the inspector turned and followed him and stopped him. Dr. Hutchison certified that lie was intoxicated. ■ " , ' "•'. : . : ■■

Mr. C. R. Barrett, who appeared for Lockett, stated, that his- client took the.liquor for medicinal_purposes. v He was a single man, 35 years of age, arid was employed as., a salesman by Briscoe, Mills. "He used his. car in his business, and his employers had told him that if he retained his licence they would still employ him. On Saturday afternoon, which was a. wet and cold day, he played golf, and .on the way home had four drinks of'rum at. the Taita Hotel. He was not accustomed to taking spirits,: and because of the cold his resistance was lowered, with the result that the liquor took effect before he .reached home. He .. was accompanied by two men who.were able to drive. ',- .. ' .:. '

The Magistrate, Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., in fining Lockett £10, said he would reserve the question of the cancellation of the licence on ;condition that a prohibition order was taken out and Lockett undertook not to drive for six months except, on the firm's business.. ' ....