“DON’T CARE!”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11014, 29 January 1926, Page 3

“DON’T CARE!”

SERVICE DRIVERS WILL FIND IT COSTLY. WARNING FROM BENCH “If motor service drivers take up that ‘dont’ care’ attitude in regard to procuring licenses I will impose a fine of £io each time”, observed Mr El. C. Levvey S.M., in dealing* with a cave yesterday. 'J he young man charged by the Cook County Council Engineer (Mr Parker) with not having a driver’s license was Fiank Fairlie (Mr K. Woodward), a service car driver employed by the De Luxe Company. The defendant admitted the offence. Outlining the Tacts Mr Parker stated that Fairlie had been driving along the Coast without- a license from the Cook County Council. He was an experienced driver of four years’ standing and knew the law' in regard to procuring licenses. There were too many owners driving without licenses particularly' service car drivers, hut this prosecution was brought as a warning to motorists. The Magistrate: Do you suggest that this offence is deliberate.

Mr Parker: I do - he inquired what the license fee was and on being informed that it .-had been increased from 5s to 10s he refused to pay. .“There are certain mitigating circumstances”, said Mr Woodward. “For some time past Fairlie has been engaged driving service cars, working long hours and as his “rest hours” were in Wairoa he had no opportunity of procuring a license in Gisborne. For this purpose he had visited the office of the Inspector of Traffic in Napier hut had twice been disappointed. There had been m> attempt at all to flout the law and because of this counsel pleaded for leniency. The Magistrate: It is his living and as the basis of his' living lie must have a license. In view of this fact can the procuring of licenses he treated with indifference? Mr Woodward: Well, lie called at the Traffic Inspector at Napier, hut each time lie was out. However, Fairlie had now' obtained a license.

The Magistrate: Ho has managed to get a license since the information was issued. Mr Woodward: Yes ; hut lie is an experienced driver and had no difficulty in obtaining a license. The Magistrate; This is the first case of its kind, hut if drivers take up that attitude I will make it £lO a time for their “don't care” attitude. In this case defendant .must have known lie should obtain a license. He will he fined £1 and costs £2 9s. DE LUXE COMPANY FINER. When the charge against the DcLuxe Motor Service Co. of employing an unlicensed driver was mentioned, in the Police Court yesterday. Mr Parker in prosecuting, stated that the prosecution was a sequel to the information against Fairlie in that the Company had employed him without seeing that ho had a license. He submitted that the onus was on the Company to ascertain whether drivers held licenses. “Between the drivers and the company”, said Mr Woodward, in pleading guilty, “the arrangement was that the drivers should keep their licenses renewed. Fairlie held a license while in the employ of the Gisborne Motor Service, then under the management of Mr Kerridge. When the latter took over the management of the De Luxe Company ho naturally assumed that Fairlie had renewed his license.

The Magistrate: On your argument a driver, who might be one of the most impossible in the world, could say he has his license and should he entrusted to public driving, and the Company should take no further interest. Mr Woodward: He is an experienced and careful driver. “I nearly lose patience when I have to listen to suggestions that a company entrusted with public life should take no interest in whether tile drivers get their licenses. As this is the first case I will have to set a moderate price. The company will be fined £2 and costs. In future cases though I will not listen to such suggestions.”