INTOXICATED DRIVERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1936, Page 5

INTOXICATED DRIVERS

MAGISTRATE’S WARNING. [PER press association.] AUCKLAND, August 8. Auckland magistrates have been in conference regarding intoxicated motorists, according to a statement made by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, senior stipendiary magistrate at Auckland, in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, w'hen John William Kinder, an engineer, pleaded guilty to being in a state of intoxication w’hile in charge of a motor-car yesterday. Sub-inspector Fox told- of a minor collision between the accused’s car and another car. The driver of the other car had w’arned Kinder not to drive, but the warning had been ignored. The constable w r ho arrested Kinder saw a woman in the car place tw'O bottles under a cushion. An investigation showed that tho bottles contained whisky and wine. The woman w r as quite sober. Kinder w’as convicted of a similar offence in 1928. For Kinder, Mr. Sellar said that his client had only had two nips of whisky. Kinder was showing signs of great worry. His wife had been ill for four months, and he lately had been doing night nursing. The magistrate: “I wish it to be understood that the magistrates of this city view this sort of offence with great gravity. We have had a conference on the matter. These offences are increasing lately, and must be checked. The penalty is going to be severe. Motorists must realise that the law provides for imprisonment without the option. If heavy fines don’t stop them, the offences will have to be checked by imprisonment. 1 w r ant that to be widely known. If these men drive w’hile in a state of intoxication, accidents are bound to occur —accidents where death may ensue.” Kinder was fined £5O aud his license was cancelled for two years.