DOCTOR FINED

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1936, Page 12

DOCTOR FINED

The reason given by a doctor for driving at a high speed on the Great South Road—that he^ had received an urgent call to his father, who had suddenly become ill—was not accepted .as justification for speeding by Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., before whom the doctor was prosecuted in the Magistrate's Court at Papakura on Monday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Defendant, Dr. Francis Clough Blundell, was fined £5 and costs, and his licence was endorsed. Inspector F. Jones said in evidence that the doctor's car reached 64 miles an hour. It took the brewery corner at 58 miles and had increased to 62. when approaching the' monument at Otahuhu. The doctor explained in a letter that while at golf that afternoon he had received urgent advice from Dr. J. Dreadon, of Auckland,.that his father had had a very serious heart attack and had asked to see him. Accordingly, he hurried through to the city. Although travelling fast, he endeavoured to take every care through the townships. His car was a modern one with thoroughly good brakes. Both Dr. Dreadon and Dr. Gunson, who was also called, could sustantiate the statement as to the urgency of the case. His father had rallied and was how recovering. "The nature of the call was no justification whatever for jeopardising tha safety of the lives of other people and the comfort of other users of the road," said the Magistrate.