OFFICER’S APPEAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 88, 13 March 1934, Page 2

OFFICER’S APPEAL

PORTION OF PENALTY REMITTED. Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, March 13. The Supreme Court to-day is heariug an appeal by Sub-Lieutenant Home R. A. Ividston, of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, against his conviction by the Magistrate for dangerous driving and the sentence disqualifying him from boldine a driving Lcense for two years. Mr W. Parry, of Wellington, is appearing for appellant and Mr W. L. Churchward, of Blenheim, for responiV it nesses gave evidence on the lines of that in the Lower Court that Lieutenant Kidston’s car travelled at 60 to 70 miles an hour oil the BlenlieimPicton Road and was twice ditched in tho distance of a few chains.

Defendant, giving evidence in which he attributed the mishaj> to skids due to the gravelled road surface and the fact that tho tread of the tyres was worn, declared that the speed was not excessive; 45 miles per hour, but the car was a super charged sports model and the noise of the engine gave the impression that it was travelling at a greater speed than was really the case. Be said he had driven similar cars since he was 16 years of age, and had never had a misha.p. He was one of the 65 drivers out of 130 who completed an eight days’ Alpine trial on the Continent. He had driven thousands of miles in England, on the Continent, in India and Ceylon in all sorts of conditions, and his only conviction had been in regard to a minor offence connected with lighting in London. Expert evidence as to the skid effects was given by Nelson mechanics. The appeal was dismissed, but the portion of the sentence relating to suspension and disqualification of the license was remitted. This means that the offence is met by a simple fine of £2O.